On the 1st January 2010 the new blasphemy law came into effect in this country. It outlines that a person can be fined up to €25,000 by the State for saying anything "that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion".Naturally there is global outcry over this mind-boggling law that is a throwback to the middle ages. In the age of free speech it's an appalling step backwards.
Let's not assume for one minute that I think hardened atheists should be swanning around spewing hatred and insults to the religious folk out there, upsetting them as they go. This isn't acceptable in any walk of life, not just with regard to religion. And neither do I for a minute think this will ever be enforced on any meaningful or consistent basis, as unless someone writes a blasphemous statement down and exhibits it to the public, I can't really see our Gardai ever catching anyone.
Anyway, what was Justice Minister Ahern thinking when he introduced this bill? It was clearly high on his list of priorities, in a year when gang violence terrorised neighbourhoods and towns across the country. His priorites beggar belief. According to a post by the group Atheist Ireland on Blasphemy.ie, "Islamic states led by Pakistan are already using the wording of this Irish law to promote new blasphemy laws at U.N. level." This could conceivably open the floodgates for similar laws to be introduced in other countries around the world and, more frighteningly, for bodies such as the EU to adopt them and enforce them on member states.
As I've said already, the scope for proper prosecution with this bill is slim, considering that real crime is rampant and it would be very hard to catch someone being blasphemous, but the principle behind it is worrying. Have we as a nation instigated something worldwide?
No comments:
Post a Comment