BLASPHEMY

The word conjures up the Medieval Era or the Spanish Inquisition and for many the Sharia Law of Islam. The word blasphemy is defined as "to speak impiously of", (presume of god). Therefore it is clearly a religious crime punishable within a particular religion by a religious decision. But therein lies the problem, whose god and what if one does not choose to believe in this "god". One would conclude that if one did not belong to a religious group then one was not affected.

In recent times there has been a quiet and skillful movement by a section of Islam, which has established itself in Western countries, to impose its believes and thus its laws. The law of Islam is Sharia Law which has clear views, that apply to followers of Islam, of what constitutes religious blasphemy. It also has severe punishment for those found guilty of this religious crime in Islam.

That was until last Friday January 01, 2010 in Ireland. Under a law which went into effect that day a person can be found guilty of blasphemy if " 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".
The penalty is a fine of up to E25,000.

The group Atheist Ireland believes the law is outdated and unenforceable, we would agree with them adding that it is appallingly written and so vague as not to comply with the standards of Common Law as practised in Ireland. The existing blasphemy law in Ireland is under criminal offences and is so poorly written that prosecutions are not possible. In fact in 1999 the Supreme Court of Ireland dismissed a test case of the law as not being clearly defined.

Ireland's Constitution begins "In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity" a clearly Christian reference, however the special position of the Catholic Church was removed by constitutional referendum in 1972 with a ban on divorce repealed in 1995.

It would seem that the persons responsible for writing and enacting this new law have written an equally vague law as the undefined original blasphemy law. One suspects that the followers of Islam and thus Sharia Law, have had an effective influence on now supposedly secular Ireland. They would appear to be the only religion that could possibly benefit from the passing of this blasphemy law.

When Ireland became a Free State that might have been the time to return to the Brehon Laws. These reflect Celtic Irish concepts, the approach to solving problems, and resolving issues more effectively perhaps than the imposed English Common Law. The Supreme Court of Ireland should address the issue immediately declaring this improper blasphemy law unconstitutional.