Want blasphemy ban abolished
Pirate Parrty MPs Birgitta Jónsdóttir and Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson discussing matters in parliament. mbl.is/Eggert
Lawmakers from Iceland's Pirate Party have called for Icelandic laws forbidding blasphemy to be scrapped following the brutal attack on the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France, earlier this week. The MPs intend to submit a bill to the parliament for that purpose.
The laws in question are part of a legislation which first came into effect in 1940 saying that whoever publicly ridicules or disgraces a legal religion established in Iceland shall be fined or imprisoned for up to three months. A report accompanying the bill states that being able to express one's opinions, without having to fear punishments either from the authorities or others, is fundamental to free societies. Referring to the attack on the French newspaper the report furthermore states:
"Unfortunately such attacks on people for expressing their opinions are nothing new. However, it is the responsibility of democratic societies to respond to such attacks with clear message that the freedom of expression will never succumb to murders, violence or threats." The MPs conclude by saying that Iceland should make its contribution to get that meesage across by scrapping the laws making blasphemy punishable in Iceland.
