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Denmark stops prosecuting blasphemy


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2017 Mar 13, 3:31pm   4,599 views  11 comments

by curious2   ➕follow (2)   💰tip   ignore  

This post was updated because Denmark repealed its law against blasphemy.

"DENMARK is one of the least religious countries in the world; a poll has found that barely one in five Danes considers faith to be a really important factor in daily life. Yet as of this week, it looks as though Denmark may be one of the very few countries in the Western world where a blasphemy law is in active use.

The country's state prosecution service has emphatically defended its decision to bring blasphemy charges (and the suggestion of a fine, not a prison term) against a 42-year-old man who burned a copy of the Koran in his garden and then posted a video of the deed on an anti-Islamic Facebook group. "Such an act may be a violation of the blasphemy section of the Criminal Code which concerns public mockery or scorn with reference to a religion," a prosecutor said.

***

Half a dozen European countries still have blasphemy laws (in other words, laws which criminalise the mockery either of religion in general or of particular faiths) on their statute books, but in most cases they are fast falling into desuetude.

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In fact, Denmark's anti-blasphemy law has very rarely been used. The most recent conviction was in 1946, of a man who mockingly impersonated a priest. Nobody has been charged since 1971, when two people broadcast an anti-Christian song; they were acquitted. As many libertarians have pointed out, no blasphemy charge was brought in 1997 when an artist burned a copy of the Bible on a state broadcasting channel.

Jacob Mchangama, a Danish lawyer who founded Justitia, a civil-liberties group that monitors freedom of expression across Europe, called the blasphemy charge a giant step backwards for his country. Given that the authorities had held back from prosecuting when Christianity's holy text was burned, it now seemed that there was a kind of 'jihadist veto' on acts of desecration against Islam and its symbols, which did not apply to other faiths, Mr Mchangama said."


"The law, which makes it illegal to "mock legal religions and faiths in Denmark," is supported by around 66 percent of Danish voters, according to a [2012] survey conducted by the liberal group CEPOS."

#politics #religion

Comments 1 - 11 of 11        Search these comments

1   Dan8267   2017 Mar 13, 4:37pm  

Sounds like a great way to challenge the law. He should demand a jury trial and sue the state. The state has far more to lose than to gain.

2   HEY YOU   2017 Mar 13, 4:58pm  

Denmark should be carpet bombed for allowing any non-Christian blasphemers to live.
Accept JESUS! or DIE & BURN IN HELL!

3   MMR   2017 Mar 13, 5:02pm  

HEY YOU says

Denmark should be carpet bombed for allowing any non-Christian blasphemers to live.

Accept JESUS! or DIE & BURN IN HELL!

Just couldn't stay away huh?

Most Danes aren't religious in least bit; first thing stated in the post above.

4   Dan8267   2017 Mar 13, 5:50pm  

Just another reason to stop tolerating religion.

5   Ceffer   2017 Mar 13, 5:55pm  

It's only blasphemy if the state believes in the religion or it's the state's religion. Otherwise, it's just another book.

In a non-denominational state, there is no such thing as blasphemy, because virtually everybody in a non-believer in somebody else's religion.

6   Dan8267   2017 Mar 13, 5:58pm  

Ceffer says

It's only blasphemy if the state believes in the religion or it's the state's religion. Otherwise, it's just another book.

That's mostly true, but not in this case. Denmark is prosecuting someone for desecrating a Quran. It's motivated by political correctness and lack of integrity and fortitude.

7   NDrLoR   2017 Mar 13, 7:03pm  

curious2 says

has emphatically defended its decision to bring blasphemy charges (and the suggestion of a fine, not a prison term) against a 42-year-old man who burned a copy of the Koran

curious2 says

no blasphemy charge was brought in 1997 when an artist burned a copy of the Bible on a state broadcasting channel.

The operative is "Koran"--they have to pacify the Muslims who will blow them up.

8   Strategist   2017 Mar 13, 7:11pm  

Denmark is still using primitive laws. The only ones who benefit are Muslim. What a screw up.

9   curious2   2017 Mar 14, 10:28am  

P N Dr Lo R says

The operative is "Koran"--they have to pacify the Muslims who will blow them up.

Yes, increased prosecution was a foreseeable consequence of importing Islam, and I suspect this prosecution will backfire. If the defendant is acquitted or prevails on appeal, Muslims will retaliate against the judiciary for acquitting him. If he is convicted, Muslims will see their doctrine has been empowered, encouraging them to do more of what it says to do: strike terror into the enemies of Allah, kill the disbelievers, etc. Either way, the decision to import Islam results in more authoritarian government, more Islam, and less liberalism.

10   Dan8267   2017 Mar 14, 10:47am  

curious2 says

Either way, the decision to import Islam results in more authoritarian government, more Islam, and less liberalism.

Unfortunate, but true.

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