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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Speaking of Free Speech
Irish eyes aren't smiling: 36. Publication or utterance of blasphemous matter.
(1) A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €100,000. [Amended to €25,000]
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person publishes or utters blasphemous matter if (a) he or she publishes or utters matter 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 (b) he or she intends, by the publication or utterance of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage.
(3) It shall be a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section for the defendant to prove that a reasonable person would find genuine literary, artistic, political, scientific, or academic value in the matter to which the offence relates.
Posted by PUBLIUS on July 14, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
Why now? At two percent of the population it's hard to believe that Muslims were behind it.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-07-14 10:12:37 AM
The Inquisition lives again!
Posted by: Alain | 2009-07-14 11:25:11 AM
Welcome to the Dark Ages.
Mind you, much of the Old and New Europe have been slowly instituting this for over several decades.
Posted by: The LS from Sk | 2009-07-14 2:25:23 PM
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