A Swedish MP says he has lodged a complaint with the European Commission over Ireland’s new blasphemy law. Karl Sigfrid, a conservative member of the Swedish Parliament, says he is concerned that Swedish citizens travelling in Ireland ‘could be punished for merely expressing a view on a religion or religious symbol’. [National Secular Society] Read more
Irish defamation law and EU human rights .... The new legislation has made blasphemous speech illegal, which means that a citizen of the European Union can be punished for making a comment that is determined to be offensive to a substantial number of followers of a religion.
The punishment of a fine, up to €25,000, can hardly be consistent with human-rights obligations under the EU treaties, and I have therefore filed a complaint to the European Commission.
.... a law against blasphemy is an obligation to live your life according to the religious beliefs of others. [EUobserver.com] Read more
