Holland abandons anti-blasphemy law
What makes this development good is that it helps to defend criticism of Islam:
Dutch authorities have decided to approve a motion abandoning a law under which it is a crime to insult God.When it comes to ideologies - that's what religions are - criticism should be allowed; that's how to make this a better world. It's when dealing with race that caution needs to be taken. Especially speech that can incite violence, and that's exactly the problem with the Religion of Rape. Bad ideologies are the problem, and Holland is doing the right thing to can this poorly drawn law which could make it easier to criticize them.
A majority of parties in parliament said the blasphemy law was no longer relevant in the 21st Century.
The legislation, introduced in the 1930s, has not been invoked in the last half century.
However, it still remains illegal under Dutch law to be disrespectful to police officers or to insult Queen Beatrix, the country's monarch.
Freedom of speech is a much-cherished right in the liberal and traditionally tolerant Netherlands.
The BBC's Anna Holligan, in The Hague, says that there was much debate about the issue after a Dutch court ruled that the far-right anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders should be allowed to criticise Islam, even if his outspoken opinions offended many Muslims.
In 2008, a coalition government decided against repealing the blasphemy law in order to maintain support from a conservative Christian political party.
Labels: Europe, islam, Netherlands
