02 January 2010

Campaign begins to repeal the Irish blasphemy law

.... According to a group known as Atheist Ireland, this new law is both ‘silly and dangerous’. The say: “It is silly because medieval religious laws have no place in a modern secular republic, where the criminal law should protect people and not ideas.

And it is dangerous because it incentives religious outrage, and because Islamic States led by Pakistan are already using the wording of this Irish law to promote new blasphemy laws at UN level.” [Archbishop Cranmer] Read more

Atheist Ireland Publishes 25 Blasphemous Quotes From today, 1 January 2010, the new Irish blasphemy law becomes operational, and we begin our campaign to have it repealed. Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine.

The new law defines blasphemy as publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted. [blasphemy.ie] Read more