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Blasphemy is now a crime in Ireland:

Blasphemy is now illegal in Ireland
The Irish President, Mary McAleese, has this morning signed the Defamation Act into law, which includes clauses which create the offence of "blasphemous libel". RTE reports that, following a meeting with the Council of State yesterday, McAleese decided not to refer the act to the Supreme Court to consider its constitutionality.

So from now on it is technically a crime in Ireland to produce or say anything "that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion; and he or she intends, by the publication of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage." Doing so could incur a fine of up to €25,000.

Atheist Ireland have promised to put out a blasphemous statement, offensive to all religions in Ireland, in order to test the law - more details on that soon.

http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/2009/07/blasphemy-is-now-illegal-in-...

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Permalink Reply by Goz on July 23, 2009 at 7:58pm

Wonder how long it will be before they try to pass this in other countries? This is really disturbing.

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Permalink Reply by dromedaryhump on July 24, 2009 at 8:58pm

Another example of the UK's kowtowing to Muslim threat.
They are selling their birthright as freemen to an outside culture who demands, under threat of violence, that THEIR beliefs are sacrosanct and trump freedom of expression.

Ben Franklin is credited with saying: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

I fear the Irish don't understand that. Or are too cowed to respect it.

Hump

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Permalink Reply by Jay on July 24, 2009 at 9:01pm

First of all, I'm disgusted the US news channels are not out crying about this. If there was ever a violation of free speech, it would be this.

But just to put my two cents, good luck enforcing this law on a massive scale.

As punishment for being caught saying, writing, etc what is considered blasphemy to religions, one can be fined up to 250,000 euros (around 350,000 US dollars). A great deal of Irish citizens are upset about the passing of this law. It is inconsistent with the guarantees in of the Irish Constitution of freedom of equality, freedom of conscience and religion and freedom from religious discrimination. The definitions in the law are too vague to allow citizens to regulate their conduct, and it could make it unlawful for a religious citizen to inform his co-religionists about a statement he believes to be blasphemous.

Just watch the fireworks begin, since all religions blaspheme each other just by their very existence. Just watch.