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Ireland Criminalizes Blasphemy

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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
This is just too good.

http://www.palibandaily.com/2009/07/09/ireland-makes-blasphemy-illegal/

Text of the law itself:

36. Publication or utterance of blasphemous matter.

(1) A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €100,000. [Amended to €25,000]

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person publishes or utters blasphemous matter if (a) he or she publishes or utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion, and (b) he or she intends, by the publication or utterance of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage.

(3) It shall be a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section for the defendant to prove that a reasonable person would find genuine literary, artistic, political, scientific, or academic value in the matter to which the offence relates.

37. Seizure of copies of blasphemous statements.

(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 36, the court may issue a warrant (a) authorising any member of the Garda Siochana to enter (if necessary by the use of reasonable force) at all reasonable times any premises (including a dwelling) at which he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that copies of the statement to which the offence related are to be found, and to search those premises and seize and remove all copies of the statement found therein, (b) directing the seizure and removal by any member of the Garda Siochana of all copies of the statement to which the offence related that are in the possession of any person, © specifying the manner in which copies so seized and removed shall be detained and stored by the Garda Siochana.

(2) A member of the Garda Siochana may (a) enter and search any premises, (b) seize, remove and detain any copy of a statement to which an offence under section 36 relates found therein or in the possession of any person, in accordance with a warrant under subsection (1).

(3) Upon final judgment being given in proceedings for an offence under section 36, anything seized and removed under subsection (2) shall be disposed of in accordance with such directions as the court may give upon an application by a member of the Garda Siochana in that behalf.


Jul 10 2009 1:54PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
oh my god that's fuckin crazy. jesus, a 25,000 euro fine? holy mother of god i'd be fucked.

presumably this is the republic of ireland not northern ireland?
Jul 10 2009 1:57PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Correct.

Next up: have extramarital sex, go to jail!
Jul 10 2009 2:00PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
don't forget skipping church.
Jul 10 2009 2:01PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,217
THIS IS BLASPHEMY!!!!! BLASPHEMOUS I TELL YOU!
Jul 10 2009 2:01PM
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PhilboydStudge
Posts: 3431 - Karma: 206
oh my god









tee hee
Jul 10 2009 2:04PM
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OhMyBosh
Posts: 5056 - Karma: 171
Why must people be so fucking stupid? Seriously? Its fucking pathetic.
Jul 10 2009 2:06PM
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kool.aid.man
Posts: 1416 - Karma: 526
.
Jul 10 2009 2:27PM
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pmills
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 59
what happens if you get caught driving one of the London buses in ireland?


Click for larger image
Jul 10 2009 7:26PM
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COskier
Posts: 1066 - Karma: 131
I would laugh at the silly irishmen, if I weren't more and more concerned about the curbing of free speech worldwide.
Jul 10 2009 11:54PM
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PeterWojnar
Posts: 3937 - Karma: 678
This is a blasphemous plot to illegalize the disbelief in the existence of leprechauns. They're real, I tell ya!
Jul 11 2009 12:07AM
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doublexl
Posts: 8407 - Karma: 27
call me ignant, but whats blasphemy?

speaking against God?
Jul 11 2009 12:11AM
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PeterWojnar
Posts: 3937 - Karma: 678
Dictionary.com says:

blas⋅phe⋅my  [blas-fuh-mee] Click for larger image Show IPA
–noun, plural -mies.1.impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.2.Judaism.a.an act of cursing or reviling God.b.pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton (YHVH) in the original, now forbidden manner instead of using a substitute pronunciation such as Adonai.3.Theology. the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.4.irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless, etc.: He uttered blasphemies against life itself.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME blasphemie < LL blasphēmia < Gk. Seeblasphemous, -y 3 Click for larger image

Synonyms:
1. profanity, cursing, swearing; sacrilege, impiety.






Also, I don't suppose Ireland plans to illegalize South Park, like Russia did? That would be rather funny.
Jul 11 2009 12:15AM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Who?
Jul 11 2009 12:15AM
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comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
yep pretty much.
Jul 11 2009 12:16AM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451
youre driving on the wrong side of the fucking road!
Jul 11 2009 12:17AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Clearly this is because he just found out there's no God and nothing matters anymore. :(

Anyway I'm out, gonna go take my helicopter for a few passes over the Emerald Isle while repeatedly taking the Lord's name in vain.
Jul 11 2009 2:01AM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
God Dammit!

isnt the government great guys? so great i want more.
Jul 11 2009 2:25AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Ireland: Slowly retreating back to the comfier and homey dark ages.
Jul 11 2009 5:32AM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
THIS IS IRELAND!!!!!!!!

But seriously, this is why I like my country.
Jul 11 2009 10:56AM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Christ on crutches, I couldn't agree more.
Jul 11 2009 11:09AM
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pmills
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 59
how is this a product of government more so than a product of religious beliefs? Government may be  the vehicle that enables people to establish such a law , but it certainly isn't the cause of it.
Jul 11 2009 11:18AM
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Gorilla.Steeze
Posts: 2215 - Karma: 43
i heart stimulus
Jul 11 2009 12:32PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
ahahahahaha
Jul 11 2009 12:35PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
what the fuck? did they do this just out of the blue or was there some reason behind it? this seems too retarded to possibly be true
Jul 11 2009 12:43PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944

Soooo.. basically you're blaspheming if you make any claim about any religion whatsoever, if somebody deems it as outrageous... okay, so that pretty much sounds OMEGA retarded.

if they actually enforce this, theres going to be a loooot of fines going around, and books being burned. 

Jul 11 2009 1:36PM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
sasha baron cohen cant visit ireland anymore.
Jul 11 2009 1:36PM
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PeeDuBzz
Posts: 1010 - Karma: 134
hahah fuck me id be so screwed
Jul 11 2009 3:25PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
well the way i see it the government is criminalizing speech.  yes there is certainly a religious angle to this, but the church is not in the practice of legislating speech for an entire country... (unless we are talking Vatican city)

regardless the government should have given whomever was pushing this the single finger salute... IMO
Jul 11 2009 3:38PM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
this cant be real.... its ridiculous. making free speach illegal, shit
Jul 11 2009 3:42PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
first off Thanks JD for your great web source (facepalm)

second after perusing many different European newspapers websites. i am not finding the "religious right" connection. and dont kid yourself the religious right is a great target so if they were the perpetrators of this im sure it would be all over the papers. (their papers not US papers, well both actually) but in the 20min i just spent reading i couldnt find anything damning them... (pface)

My opinnion holds steady. thanks government, i want more :)
Jul 11 2009 3:53PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944

You do know that ireland is catholic to insaaaane levels yes? (least outside of the dublin area..)

I see this more as an issue with the country being far too religious than a government intervention to try to stick their foot in everyone's doors... It might just be that everyone just kinda agreed with it in their mindset and judgement...

I'd like to talk to a large group of people from all over the Rep. of Ireland, and maybe even some Ulster folks on the subject...

We American's cant really throw too much into the subject, seeing as our nation was built upon religious freedom (unless you wear a turban, or a tunic or are a muslim, or speak with a foreign accent, or language... then we profile your ass, apparently...) and we have that notion in the back of our heads at all times... Meanwhile Ireland has gone through what can almost be termed as genocide, because of religion... or at least the method of practicing said religion...

Jul 12 2009 8:16PM
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seemeski
Posts: 4210 - Karma: 124
Jesus Christ!
Jul 12 2009 8:49PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
My point exactly.
Jul 12 2009 9:08PM
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Sir.Steezealot
Posts: 1156 - Karma: 677
Me and my parents are both 100% Irsh and this doesnt suprise me at all sad
Jul 12 2009 9:22PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0626/1224249573418.html


from what i understand this is the bill the blasphemy bill got its teeth from. it seems as though this bill is NOT concerned with religion, rather libel and slander...

Nobody wanted this law: no one can think of a single thundering priest, austere vicar, irate rabbi or miffed mullah ever calling for tougher penalties for blasphemy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jul/09/ireland-blasphemy-laws


like i said, im sure there are without doubt priests saying their hail mary's because this law got teeth. but dont for one fucking second, pretend that all religious people want this sort of law..

Jul 12 2009 9:33PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944

I'm pretty sure nobody ever made an argument contrary to that.

Anyone here believe that all religious people want this sort of law? Theres gotta a surefire common consensus that we all agree with you there...

My point was that there are potentially enough people didnt think it through, because they were blind with their own religion, or didnt read the law fully, or something to some crazy extent like that that allowed this to happen...

I dont think any of us can talk upon the Rep. of Irelands behalf on this issue... We're american, or at least canadian, and holy shit... we ARE different than Ireland... 

That said, I'm not defending this crazy law (that will likely be taken out if theres as much backlash as we all would HOPE there would be) but rather stating that Irish politics are definitely weird, and I dont think any of us can dissagree on that.

Jul 12 2009 9:50PM
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