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Be careful my fellow atheists, if you intend to ever visit Ireland be aware that your free speech rights will suddenly decrease as you cross into their borders. Many non-believers are obviously afraid of what might happen if they were to speak out. Irish Parliament passed a bill making blasphemy a crime, by just one vote, on July 10th (a reminder to us that every vote counts) and it is punishable by a 25,000 Euro fine, which amounts to about 35,000 USD.
However, this doesn’t just affect atheists, people of other religions can no longer criticize each other as well. Looks like free speech about religion is out, along with debate, expression of opinion, thoughts, etc. Police can now confiscate anything considered blasphemous, including books, dvds, music, etc.
These crimes are deemed so if they can potentially cause outrage. This is most definitely a step backwards in terms of basic rights that every person should have. It worries me that any present day country, that has not remained under such strict rule up to this point, would take such an awful step all in the name of protecting faith, not truth, reason or rights.
Not only does this issue make me think of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, but I’m also reminded of such movies as Equilibrium, where law mandates that people sedate themselves as to not cause conflict or arouse emotion.
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Comments
Seriously?! I cant fathom that. What if America decided to do something to stupid. What will we do then? I need to be able to say things that offend others or my head will explode!!! *massive panic*
If the U.S. tried that, I think we'd have riots on our hands and have our own little internal war going on. I wouldnt mind seeing the outcome of such a thing here. I wouldnt want to RISK it, of course, but I'd like to see them try. I think we'd blow ourselves up. Spontaneous combustion perhaps... Its very sad, really. I cant believe they did that. I have to believe that they had a basis for it though- perhaps people were being killed for saying things and they are trying to protect their citizens... (shh, I know that isnt the case... just let me believe it.)
Thats no different than the US putting preachers in jail for speaking out against homosexuality. Its the same principle, both are being denied their rights.
Never heard of such a thing Ashton, would you mind offering a source? And it may be different if what you happen to be talking about is discrimination, that's VERY different.
I'm looking forward to the court case when someone in Ireland provokes this law. Such is the price of freedom.
Blasphemy used to be criminalized in the US until activist judges applied the 'bill of rights' to the states. See People v Most 171 NY 423, 64 NE 175
Yeah, sodomy is illegal too...
One of the beautys of the whole "Soverngty Of Nations" thing. What they do over there, is not our ******* problem.
Not directly at least...
And the idea of "them" doing that over here is silly. Who is "them" anyway?
The law only affects publications, not much of a consolation though. And blasphemy was always technically illegal in Ireland, this clause was introduced to "fix" the grey areas in the previous law.
I doubt that it will ever be enforced though, from what I'm told even the guy who proposed the bill didn't like the blasphemy part, but since it was part of a wider defamation bill (anti-racism etc) most parliament members couldn't vote 'no' without looking bad from that angle.
Sucks to be here in Ireland, land of saints and spine-less government officials.
Everywhere I've read it sounds much more severe.
This is alarming and dangerous... I just hope it stays in Ireland and doesn't spread.
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