Netherlands to scrap blasphemy law
29 Nov 2012 12:33 AM GMT
The Almighty will have to defend his own name from now on: Dutch parliament has accepted a motion that will scrap a law making it a crime to insult God.
A majority of parties said on Wednesday the European Union nation no longer needs the law, which hasn't been invoked in the past half-century.
The movement to decriminalize blasphemy gathered strength in the last decade amid a national debate about the limits of freedom of speech.
The climax came at the 2011 trial of far-right politician Geert Wilders, when judges ruled he had the right to criticize Islam, even if his opinions were insulting to many Muslims.
A majority of parties said on Wednesday the European Union nation no longer needs the law, which hasn't been invoked in the past half-century.
The movement to decriminalize blasphemy gathered strength in the last decade amid a national debate about the limits of freedom of speech.
The climax came at the 2011 trial of far-right politician Geert Wilders, when judges ruled he had the right to criticize Islam, even if his opinions were insulting to many Muslims.
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