Ireland’s new blasphemy law being copied by Pakistan

Ireland’s new blasphemy law – which was passed in July 2009 – came into force four days ago on 1 January 2010. It makes blasphemy a crime punishable by a fine of up to €25,000. It has been the subject of some controversy, to say the least. I’m not going to delve into the whole debate here except to say my position on the law is that I’m agin it. The subject of this post is a couple of interesting comments that appeared on this thread at Politics.ie.

‘FutureTaoiseach’ voices a suspicion about the new blasphemy law, which is similar to comments I had made earlier in the same thread:

The radical Islamists want it [the law]. The govt is concerned about a Danish-style cartoon row blowing up in this country. At the UN, Islamic countries are pushing for a global ban on blasphemy.

To which ‘Half Nelson’ helpfully replies:

Statute
For the purposes of this section, a person publishes or utters blasphemous matter if he or she publishes or utters matter 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.

Pakistan’s Submission to UN
State parties shall prohibit by law the uttering of matters that are grossly abusive or insulting to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion (p11.1)

Somebody is watching us.

Indeed. When one of the most illiberal police states in the world is plagirising your country’s laws in order to further its global theocratic agenda, that may be a sign that you’re doing it wrong.