IN AL-QAIDA'S FOOTSTEPS: BLASPHEMY LAW GOES INTO EFFECT IN PREDOMINATELY CATHOLIC IRELAND

From January 1, 2010, the new Irish blasphemy law becomes operational... Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine. The new law defines blasphemy as publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted. [blasphemy.ie]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Faith & Common Sense
Source & Credit: New York Daily News | January 2, 2010
By Soraya Roberts for Daily News

Atheist Ireland protests blasphemy law by publishing book of religious quotations by famous people

A group of Irish atheists are using the words of Bjork and Mark Twain to protest a blasphemy law that went into effect on New Year's Day.

Atheist Ireland has published a book of 25 "blasphemous" quotations in response to a new law that slaps a $35,800 fine on blasphemers, CNN reports.

The group has labeled the law "silly and dangerous" for its capacity to inspire religious violence.

The quotes include, among others, sayings from Jesus, Mohammed, Mark Twain, Salman Rushdie and Bjork.

"Despite these quotes being abusive and insulting in relation to matters held sacred by various religions, we unreservedly support the right of these people to have published or uttered them," the group wrote on their web site, where the list was published on Friday.

"We unreservedly support the right of any Irish citizen to make comparable statements about matters held sacred by any religion without fear of being criminalized, and without having to prove to a court that a reasonable person would find any particular value in the statement."

The law was passed by the predominantly Catholic country in July, but was not implemented until January 1, 2010.

According to the law, a person can be fined if they say or write anything 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."

Guilty parties may, however, prove that what they have said or published has literary, artistic, political, scientific or academic merit, the law says.

Atheist Ireland is demanding that the Irish government repeal the law and that a referendum is called to clear the Irish constitution. of all references to God.

Read more: Atheist Ireland protests blasphemy law