Tags: blasphemy
Blasphemy laws “astonishingly widespread” - report
Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2017
Dozens of countries from all corners of the globe retain laws which punish blasphemy and most of them punish the 'crime' severely, according a report from the US government. Read More »
Pakistan puts pressure on Facebook to help punish 'blasphemers'
Posted: Fri, 21 Jul 2017
The Pakistani government is punishing people for social media posts which it considers blasphemous, and placing pressure on social media companies to help it do so. Read More »
Effort to repeal New Zealand blasphemy law delayed
Posted: Wed, 24 May 2017
An attempt by Labour MP Chris Hipkins to remove anti-blasphemy laws from New Zealand's statute book has failed after National Party and Maori Party MPs voted it down. Read More »
Campaigns against blasphemy laws gather steam following Ahok conviction and Fry investigation
Posted: Wed, 10 May 2017
Indonesia, Denmark and New Zealand are facing calls to repeal their blasphemy laws, following the conviction of Jakarta's former governor for blasphemy and an investigation into Stephen Fry. Read More »
Calls for abolition of Irish blasphemy law following investigation of Stephen Fry
Posted: Mon, 08 May 2017
The National Secular Society has called for the repeal of Ireland's blasphemy law after Irish police dropped an investigation against Stephen Fry over a complaint of 'blasphemy' related to an interview aired in 2015. Read More »
Death sentence for Saudi ‘apostate’ amid surge of violence against atheists across Islamic world
Posted: Fri, 28 Apr 2017
A Saudi trial based "heavily on Koranic law" has resulted in a death sentence for a 'mentally ill' man who denounced the Islamic 'prophet' Mohammed. Read More »
MP calls for urgent action after killer of Asad Shah incites anti-Ahmadi violence from prison
Posted: Wed, 25 Jan 2017
An MP has urged the Scottish Government to take action after Tanver Ahmed, who killed Ahmadi Muslim shopkeeper Asad Shah, released another anti-Ahmadi recording from prison. Read More »
MP says Government's silence over Louis Smith heralds "unwritten blasphemy law"
Posted: Thu, 15 Dec 2016
Charles Walker MP has criticised the media for unleashing "a torrent of venom" against Louis Smith, and said the Government was "nowhere to be seen" when it should have been defending free expression. Read More »
Fifty organisations call on Greece to abolish blasphemy laws
Posted: Mon, 06 Jun 2016
The National Secular Society has joined dozens of secularist, humanist and free speech groups in calling on the Greek government to expedite the removal of blasphemy articles from the country's criminal code. Read More »
Turkey sentences opposition journalists to prison over Muhammad cartoon
Posted: Fri, 29 Apr 2016
Two Turkish journalists have been sentenced to two years in prison for republishing a cover of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo with a cartoon of Muhammad. Read More »
‘Blasphemy’ accusation after academic calls for separation of religion and politics
Posted: Mon, 18 Apr 2016
A Kuwaiti philosopher was questioned over blasphemy charges after she said that religion and politics should be separate and that placing the Koran above the constitution was "undoing" democracy. Read More »
Bradford imam praises ‘martyr’ who murdered anti-blasphemy law governor
Posted: Fri, 04 Mar 2016
An influential British imam has praised the killer of the former governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who was murdered in Pakistan in 2011 after calling for reform of the country's blasphemy laws. Read More »
Georgian blasphemy law to impose fines for insulting religion
Posted: Mon, 08 Feb 2016
Plans in Georgia to pass an anti-blasphemy measure with punitive fines for 'offences' have drawn criticism from a non-Orthodox bishop, and from an MP of the ruling coalition. Read More »
New report warns of ‘escalation’ in global persecution against non-believers
Posted: Thu, 10 Dec 2015
The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) has warned that worldwide "persecution of the non-religious has escalated" in the past year. Read More »
Labour MP Keith Vaz would have “no problem” with reintroduction of UK blasphemy laws
Posted: Mon, 16 Nov 2015
Labour MP Keith Vaz has expressed his support for the reintroduction of UK blasphemy laws – provided they "apply equally to everybody." Read More »
New US free expression campaign website launched for International Blasphemy Rights Day
Posted: Wed, 30 Sep 2015
The US-based Centre for Inquiry (CFI) has launched a new website for their campaign to promote and defend free expression, in time to celebrate International Blasphemy Rights Day. Read More »
NSS welcomes Warwick Student Union’s decision to allow Maryam Namazie to speak
Posted: Mon, 28 Sep 2015
The National Secular Society has welcomed Warwick Student Union's decision to host secular campaigner Maryam Namazie. The Union reversed their ban on her speaking following huge public pressure. Read More »
Secular groups write to Nigerian President over blasphemy death sentences
Posted: Sun, 02 Aug 2015
The National Secular Society has joined other secularist organisations in calling for a full pardon and civil protection for nine people recently sentenced to death by a Sharia court in Nigeria. Read More »
Student secular society’s website deleted after “ominous” threat sent from Saudi Arabia
Posted: Thu, 02 Jul 2015
The Manchester Free Speech and Secular Society's website has been deleted, shortly after the group received a message warning they would "feel remorse" if they didn't stop criticising Islamic fundamentalism. Read More »
International groups highlight global persecution of non-religious and religious minorities
Posted: Thu, 25 Jun 2015
Secular human rights organisations have called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to promote "genuine respect for freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression". Read More »
