Countries with Blasphemy & Apostasy laws

[Foggy_Bottom]

Some listed surprised me. Nearly half (47%) of the countries and territories in the world have laws or policies that penalize blasphemy, apostasy (abandoning one’s faith) or defamation.

 

[Paksanity]

Does denying holocaust count in the list?

 

[psynic]

Does denying holocaust count in the list?

Not a religious issue.

 

[Paksanity]

A society believes in something so strongly that you can't even speak against it publicly. No similarity or parallel here?

I truly believe persecution of Jews by Nazi was an evil thing and I have no problem with assigning a name to it. But freedom to erect a law that goes against society's fundamental beliefs should also be respected for others.

 

[Steve781]

Britain had a blasphemy law until 2008. Nobody was prosecuted for it since the nineteenth century though.

A society believes in something so strongly that you can't even speak against it publicly. No similarity or parallel here?

Nazism is illegal in countries like Germany, France and Austria for obvious reasons. Countries like Britain who never had a strong fascist movement don't need it.

 

[DRaisinHerald]

I honestly think it's time for these laws to go..

 

[Developereo]

Does denying holocaust count in the list?

Almost all countries, including Western countries, have laws against racial and religious vilification.
A blasphemy law by any other name...

Not a religious issue.

The issue is about offending sensibilities.
Religious or not is an artificial distinction imposed by those who defend their sensibilities but not others'.

 

[Steve781]

Almost all countries, including Western countries, have laws against racial and religious vilification.
A blasphemy law by any other name...



The issue is about offending sensibilities.
Religious or not is an artificial distinction imposed by those who defend their sensibilities but not others'.

Isn't belonging to any other religion than Islam blasphemy if you stretch the definition far enough? If you are a Christian then you believe the Prophet Mohammed was not a genuine prophet. Which means you think he was a liar and thus it becomes blasphemous.

 

[Paksanity]

No, you got it wrong Steve. You can choose to believe in any religion but you can not insult other religion. That's what law says.

 

[Steve781]

No, you got it wrong Steve. You can choose to believe in any religion but you can insult other religion. That's what law says.

I know that isn't the intention. But laws can easily be twisted to alter their original meaning.

 

[Gunsnroses]

Isn't belonging to any other religion than Islam blasphemy if you stretch the definition far enough? If you are a Christian then you believe the Prophet Mohammed was not a genuine prophet. Which means you think he was a liar and thus it becomes blasphemous.

Contrary to the popular belief - no. There is no compulsion in religion. Everybody is entitled to his own opinion.

 

[Developereo]

Isn't belonging to any other religion than Islam blasphemy if you stretch the definition far enough? If you are a Christian then you believe the Prophet Mohammed was not a genuine prophet. Which means you think he was a liar and thus it becomes blasphemous.

Anything can be stretched and manipulated by opportunistic people. Most Pakistanis would agree that the blasphemy laws, while possibly well-intentioned, are grossly abused for personal vendettas. They have lost their legitimacy in that sense.

However, I was making a wider point that most countries have laws regulating speech which is considered likely to humiliate or insult particular groups. It gets worse if the speech incites hatred and/or violence. They are euphemistically called racial/religious vilification laws, but the basic intent is the analogous to blasphemy laws.

 

[psynic]

Almost all countries, including Western countries, have laws
The issue is about offending sensibilities.
Religious or not is an artificial distinction imposed by those who defend their sensibilities but not others'.

While I agree some control over hate speech is needed, the amount of such control exerted in say, Germany or Pakistan and the impact of it is for all to see.

The distinction is also not purely artificial as holocaust is plain fact, a particular religion may or may not be.

 

[Paksanity]

Law can't apply itself, people do it. People may be blamed not the law. Laws are twisted all around world, no?

 

[Gunsnroses]

I know that isn't the intention. But laws can easily be twisted to alter their original meaning.

Guantanamo prisoners are called detainees to avoid Geneva convention. Manipulation is going on everywhere, sadly you are right.