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Atheist Group Challenges Ireland's New Blasphemy Law

By Howard M. Friedman

Ireland's new blasphemy law came into force yesterday. It prohibits intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of any religion by publishing or uttering grossly abusive insults to matters held sacred by the religion. Yesterday's London Guardian reported that to challenge the law, a group known as Atheist Ireland published "25 Blasphemous Quotations" on its website. The quotes were from famous figures ranging from Jesus to Mark Twain to Frank Zappa. Atheist Ireland's leader says the group will challenge the blasphemy law through the courts if they are charged under it. Yesterday also was International Blasphemy Day, and Atheist Ireland used the occasion to announce that it was launching a broad-based campaign to both obtain repeal of the blasphemy law and attain a secular Irish Constitution. [Thanks to Scott Mange for a lead on this.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 02, 2010 (boomark / email).