blasphemy

Believing the wrong things = prison or even death

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Blasphemy is not just an archaic relic but is in reality a very real issue for many who live within nations that have a strong theocratic mindset, so much so, that there exists an ongoing campaign to end blasphemy laws worldwide. The following map illustrates this current reality … Why is Blasphemy absurd? As explained on … Read more

Icelandic pirates repeal blasphemy laws

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The title of this posting sounds like a B movie plot, but strangely enough it is wholly factual. Up until this happened, Iceland has had a Blasphemy law … Art. 125 Anyone officially ridiculing or insulting the dogmas or worship of a lawfully existing religious community in this Country shall be subject to fines or [imprisonment … Read more

Hypocrisy of the highest order at the UN

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The British Humanist Association (BHA) has called for the repeal of blasphemy laws to an audience of United Nations member states, as part of the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The BHA website reports … The BHA, which is a partner organisation in the International Coalition Against Blasphemy Laws, has said that … Read more

Irish Politicians break promise to reform Blasphemy laws

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Ireland rather absurdly has a Blasphemy law, and this is not some archaic dictate inherited from the dark ages, but was introduced in July 2009 by the then Fianna Fáil-led government. Enacting something like this as recently as 2009 would appear to be truly bizarre, because nobody was demanding it should happen, and nobody was particularly bothered about the lack … Read more

Editor Threatened with prosecution for criticism of ISIS

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You would think that outside of ISIS themselves, anybody openly criticising ISIS would be commended and supported, even within the Islamic world. Alas, apparently not. The New York Times reports … The chief editor of a prominent Indonesian newspaper, the English-language Jakarta Post, has been summoned for questioning by the police for publishing a cartoon that … Read more

Ireland to Vote on Removing its Blasphemy Law … or perhaps not.

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Now here is a small snippet of potentially good news, it has been officially announced that Ireland will indeed now hold a vote on their rather silly Blasphemy law. The report on this reads … Junior Minister Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin told the Dáil: The Government accepts the main recommendation of the [Constitutional Convention], which is that a … Read more