Tags: Blasphemy
Imam joins secularists and Christians in defending Pastor James McConnell’s free speech
Posted: Wed, 24 Jun 2015
An Islamic scholar has said he is willing to go to prison to defend the free speech of Northern Ireland Pastor James McConnell, who is being prosecuted for comments he made on Islam. Read More »
Human rights group warns against global blasphemy law
Posted: Wed, 03 Jun 2015
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has warned the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) against pushing once more for a global blasphemy law. Read More »
MP warns of “religious intimidation” of Muslim voters
Posted: Sat, 16 May 2015
The Labour MP for Slough has hit out against voter intimidation, after some Muslim voters were told that they were not 'true Muslims' unless they voted against her. Read More »
NSS joins calls for Government to recognise global discrimination against atheists- as third Bangladeshi blogger is hacked to death
Posted: Tue, 12 May 2015
The National Secular Society is calling on the Government to do more to tackle global discrimination against non-believers, secularists and humanists- after a third Bangladeshi secular blogger was murdered. Read More »
Bath Student Union says decision to cut Jesus and Mohammed sketch was “in line with normal practice”
Posted: Mon, 11 May 2015
Bath Student Union has defended their decision to cut 'blasphemous' material from a student group's comedy show, saying that it is "normal practice" for Student Union officers to edit scripts. Read More »
Queen’s University Belfast cancels Charlie Hebdo event for ‘security’ reasons
Posted: Wed, 22 Apr 2015
Queen's University Belfast has cancelled an event on the fallout from the attack on Charlie Hebdo, citing fears over the university's "reputation" and "security" if the talk went ahead. Read More »
Putin continues promotion of “traditional values” and crackdown on blasphemy
Posted: Tue, 31 Mar 2015
The head of the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre has been fired by the Russian Culture Minister over a 'blasphemous' opera, prompting further fears about free speech and religious freedom in Russia. Read More »
Jordan proposes ban on “insults to religions” at next Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting
Posted: Wed, 25 Mar 2015
Jordan has introduced an emergency item to the next meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, calling for a ban on insulting religion or religious symbols. Read More »
NSS warns of ‘de-facto’ blasphemy laws at European Parliament
Posted: Thu, 26 Feb 2015
The National Secular Society has raised concerns about the limits imposed on free speech by unofficial blasphemy laws enforced by the threat of violence. Read More »
French religious leaders asked to sign free speech declaration
Posted: Wed, 04 Feb 2015
Reporters Without Borders is asking French religious leaders to sign a statement declaring that "everyone is free to express criticism… of any system of political, philosophical or religious thought." Read More »
Malta to reform blasphemy law
Posted: Mon, 19 Jan 2015
The Republic of Malta is to reform its long-standing blasphemy law, according to a report in the Sunday Times of Malta. Read More »
BBC restrictions on depicting Mohammed must be abolished, says NSS
Posted: Fri, 09 Jan 2015
The National Secular Society is calling on the Government to compel the BBC to remove a restriction on any depiction of the prophet Mohammed. Read More »
EU parliament calls on Pakistan to abolish the death penalty for blasphemy
Posted: Mon, 01 Dec 2014
The European parliament has voted for a resolution condemning Pakistan's blasphemy laws, saying that they were increasingly being used to "target vulnerable minority groups." Read More »
“Learning Jihad”: new report on campus extremism has launch event cancelled by the University of West London
Posted: Tue, 11 Nov 2014
A new report from Sharia Watch UK has revealed the reach of Islamist speakers and the dangers of censorship on university campuses. The report's launch event has been cancelled by the University of West London. Read More »
Northern Ireland council lifts ban on “blasphemous” Bible play
Posted: Tue, 28 Jan 2014
Newtownabbey Borough Council in Northern Ireland has overturned its ban on a play that spoofs the Bible. Read More »
Release British doctor accused of blasphemy, urges UK human rights group
Posted: Thu, 23 Jan 2014
A UK-based human rights organisation is calling on the authorities in Pakistan to release a 72-year-old doctor who was arrested for 'posing as a Muslim' after being secretly filmed by a patient at his surgery. Read More »
Non-religious suffer discrimination or persecution in most countries of the world, new report finds
Posted: Tue, 10 Dec 2013
A report, published by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), has found that the non-religious are discriminated against, or outright persecuted, in most countries of the world. In 12 countries, people who openly espouse atheism or reject the official state religion of Islam face execution. Read More »
Netherlands scraps blasphemy law – but seeks a way to replace it
Posted: Thu, 05 Dec 2013
The upper House of the Dutch parliament has voted to abolish the country's blasphemy law which has been on the statute books since 1932. Read More »
Dutch lawmakers may backtrack on plans to scrap blasphemy law
Posted: Wed, 27 Nov 2013
Dutch lawmakers appear to be having second thoughts about scrapping the nation's blasphemy laws. Read More »
Kuwait: 5 years for tweet “insulting” Prophet
Posted: Wed, 20 Nov 2013
(Sanaa) – A Kuwaiti court on November 18, 2013, sentenced a Kuwaiti man to five years in prison for a Twitter comment about Sunni/Shia theology. Read More »
