Policing Belief: The Impact of Blasphemy Laws on Human Rights

[Sailor Steve]

We actually used to have 'Blasphemy Laws' here in the US. Until Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was enacted in 1786 that state had laws on the books making denial of the Holy Trinity punishable by thirty days in jail, and blasphemy against the Anglican Church punishable by death. It had been decades since either was enforced, but they were still there.

But, supposedly, we've grown since then.

[MH]

I just hope that fighting radical islam will not get confused with fighting multi tradition society that europe now became by its choice.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

We actually used to have 'Blasphemy Laws' here in the US. Until Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was enacted in 1786 that state had laws on the books making denial of the Holy Trinity punishable by thirty days in jail, and blasphemy against the Anglican Church punishable by death. It had been decades since either was enforced, but they were still there.

But, supposedly, we've grown since then.

Dead bodies in the cellar? The German federal state of Hessen still mentions in article 21 of the federal constitution that the death penalty can be given in case of very serious crimes.

The national Basic Law, as the constitution is called over here, overrules that, though.

Verfassung des Landes Hessen
Art. 21 Verf(Gesetz) - Landesrecht Hessen

(1) Ist jemand einer strafbaren Handlung für schuldig befunden worden, so können ihm auf Grund der Strafgesetze durch richterliches Urteil die Freiheit und die bürgerlichen Ehrenrechte entzogen oder beschränkt werden. Bei besonders schweren Verbrechen kann er zum Tode verurteilt werden.

(2) Die Strafe richtet sich nach der Schwere der Tat.

(3) Alle Gefangenen sind menschlich zu behandeln.

Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Art. 102 GG

Die Todesstrafe ist abgeschafft.

[Sailor Steve]

I did say "supposedly".