The Irish government plans to bring into force a new law in October that critics say is a return to medieval justice.
The legislation, aimed at providing judges with clear direction on the 1937 Constitution’s blasphemy prohibition, imposes a fine of up to 25,000 euros — about $39,000 — for anyone who “publishes or utters matter that is [intentionally meant to be] 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.”
Police with a search warrant will be able to enter private premises and use “reasonable force” to obtain incriminating evidence.
The initiative has stunned some Irish and international commentators who say it contradicts Ireland’s recent emergence as a more multicultural,
tech-savvy country that has in recent years showed its independence from the Roman Catholic church by liberalizing its divorce law.
“It is a wretched, backward, uncivilized regression to the Middle Ages,” said prominent atheist author Richard Dawkins in a statement last month, arguing that the law risks shattering Ireland’s new image as a “modern, civilized . . . green and pleasant silicon valley.”
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This article has 3 Comments
Wow, That is a horrible idea. Glad my country still has a decent Constitution. Hopefully we can keep it.
Let’s keep up the good fight!
So it’s fine to give athiests the right to sue an organization for displaying a crusifix but not for anti-religious hate-speech? Hypocrites.
And what does multi-culturalism or technology have to do with this? If anything this fits well with the increase of Muslims.
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