Cool! Anti Blasphemy laws are antithetical to human rights. Not only that, but this will make it easier for people in the Netherlands to criticize Islam.
This battle will not be won with one large effort. It will be tens of thousands of small victories. The third jihad will be shut down one victory at a time. And repealing the blaspheme law is just such a victory.
Maybe it won't be won with just one major victory, but this is a pretty substantial victory in and of itself. European nations have had those laws for a long time, and they'd be a bad thing with or without Islam.
[Image]In the Netherlands, they've had a blasphemy law on the books since the 1930's. Muslim immigrants started using those laws to censor speech and writings critical of Islam's political, totalitarian, and suppressive teachings.
So the Dutch government repealed the blasphemy laws on November 1st, 2008. Religious criticism is a legitimate activity in a free country.
You can read more about this important victory here: Blasphemy Law Dropped in Netherlands. Here are a few excerpts from the article: Blasphemy will no longer be a crime in the Netherlands, the Dutch government announced last week. On Nov 1 Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin said the country’s coalition government would repeal a 1930s blasphemy law in favor of strengthening the current anti-discrimination legislation.
Religion not be given a privileged place above free speech.
The push to reform the blasphemy laws comes in response to heightened tensions with the Netherland’s Muslim minority. Criticism of Islamists and Islam by comedians, cartoonists, filmmakers and politicians has led to threats of prosecution for offending Muslim sensibilities.
5 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formCitizen Warrior,
Cool! Anti Blasphemy laws are antithetical to human rights. Not only that, but this will make it easier for people in the Netherlands to criticize Islam.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 1:13:00 am
This battle will not be won with one large effort. It will be tens of thousands of small victories. The third jihad will be shut down one victory at a time. And repealing the blaspheme law is just such a victory.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:35:00 am
Citizen Warrior,
Maybe it won't be won with just one major victory, but this is a pretty substantial victory in and of itself. European nations have had those laws for a long time, and they'd be a bad thing with or without Islam.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:46:00 am
This 'victory' was thoroughly debunked in the comments of a Jihad/Dhimmi Watch posting weeks ago.
Just so you know.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 6:16:00 pm
Kim Hartveld,
Could you please give us a direct link?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 6:47:00 pm