Abolish medieval blasphemy laws

THE offence of blasphemy was originally part of Canon Law. The medieval Church forged an act of parliament enabling the arrest and imprisonment of heretics under this law.

During this time, there was a long list of people burnt at the stake, which was used as a deterrent to anyone who dared to criticise the established Church. The most common punishment in the Bible for blasphemers was stoning to death, justified by Leviticus 24: 13-16.

The last person sent to prison under blasphemy laws was in 1921, but a number of attempts have been made to use this law since that time.

Mary Whitehouse tried and failed in 1977 in an action against Gay News, and in 2005 Christian fundamentalists sought a private blasphemy prosecution against the BBC over Jerry Springer the Opera.

Iran issued a fatwa against Salman Rushdie over The Satanic Verses, and Christians have been persecuted under blasphemy laws in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

A few years ago, the Garda investigated a complaint of blasphemy against atheist Stephen Fry regarding his RTE interview with Gay Byrne.

Byrne said to Fry: “Suppose it is true and he exists, what would you say to him when confronted with God at the Pearly Gates?” Fry replied: “How dare you cause bone cancer in children. What kind of God would inflict such injustice and pain?”

In March 2008, Gordon Brown’s Labour government abolished the law on blasphemy in England and Wales. Recently, the Republic of Ireland has done likewise.

Blasphemy and blasphemous libel continue to be offences in Northern Ireland.

As humanists, we are calling on our local MLAs to make their position known about this law.

Hopefully, when Stormont does reconvene, it will abolish this anti-democratic law.

Hopefully, the Churches will support this call.

As I have said, Christians are being persecuted at this very moment in different parts of the world for blasphemy.

Deeply held religious views should be open to debate and even ridicule. In a healthy society, our beliefs should be regularly exposed to questions and criticism.

ANDY BARR Bangor Humanists

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