14 July 2009

Irish blasphemy law now in effect

On Friday July 11th, 2009, Ireland passed the Defamation Bill by one vote. One of the aspects of this bill would make it illegal to criticize religion… any religion under penalty of fines up to 25,000 Euros...

...makes it illegal to criticize any religion either verbally* or in writing. Saying anything in which a “substantial number” of followers might find offensive would now be a crime in the Ireland...

'The Garda Siochana is the Irish police who can now (under this law) break into people’s homes and confiscate copies of any book which might be critical of any religion... Atheists are not the only ones being targeted here. Simply claiming that the Pope is not infallible might be considered blasphemous to many Catholics. Claiming that the prophet Joseph Smith was not really visited by angels and given magic golden plates would be blasphemous to Mormons. Mentioning the prophet Mohammad without adding the phrase “peace be upon him” would be considered blasphemous to Muslims. And claiming that Scientology is a sham and that Tom Cruise is crazy would obviously be blasphemous to Scientologists.
This is a ridiculous law. Period.

Via The Daily Dish.

* (he meant to say "orally." "Verbally" includes "in writing.")

3 comments:

  1. This law is wrong on so many levels. Imagine not being able to slam Scientology? Sharia law? That idiot in Kansas who hates everybody?

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  2. Actually it's not an entirely new law, since the Irish constitution includes an article saying “The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent material is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law.”
    So far, there has been one (1) actual court case in history based on this. So maybe not quite as big as it sounds.

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  3. This makes me treasure the concept of our freedom of speech. While I realize that the present incarnation is more a product of subsequent Supreme Court rulings than the actual US Constitution, I'm glad that we have the right to criticize Scientology, Sharia Law, and that idiot in Kansas.

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