Time to reintroduce blasphemy laws?

T

TSSeasider

Well-known member
Looking at the reaction in Batley, is it time to reintroduce blasphemy laws, rather than allow upsetting people of faith(s) to become divisive?
 
Poultongirl said:
Don’t know the first thing about blasphemy nor do I want to but id be more concerned about the individuals threatening to murder a young school teacher☹️
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But they are only do that because he insulted their religion which although not illegal creates that reaction.

If blasphemy was reintroduced he wouldn't have done it.

It works well at keeping the peace in Northern Ireland.
 
The irony is he produced it as part of a discussion about blasphemy

The religious education teacher showed the cartoon of Islam’s prophet during a discussion about blasphemy and is believed to have warned pupils beforehand. The cartoon is thought to have been one of a number published by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

We live a country where debate on ethical issues is allowed - or at least it was
 
TSSeasider said:
But they are only do that because he insulted their religion which although not illegal creates that reaction.

If blasphemy was reintroduced he wouldn't have done it.

It works well at keeping the peace in Northern Ireland.
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Nobody insulted their religion, they are taking the opportunity to take offence and basing that offence on a very narrow and misguided intepretation which most muslim scholars dont agree with. if there have been threats against the teacher then those who made the threats should be arrested and prosecuted. the teacher or headmaster who apologised i think should be censured for apologising
 
Costero Poderoso said:
Nobody insulted their religion, they are taking the opportunity to take offence and basing that offence on a very narrow and misguided intepretation which most muslim scholars dont agree with. if there have been threats against the teacher then those who made the threats should be arrested and prosecuted. the teacher or headmaster who apologised i think should be censured for apologising
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This 👍

The prophet was a normal man with a mental illness anyway. All religion needs to fuck right off.
 
Blasphemy Laws are the number one driver in enforcing human rights abuses across the globe.

I suspect you’re trying to offer a round table on it TS but I can’t imagine 99% of our population fancy any kind of blasphemy law.

Thankfully we’ve moved on in general from religion, and the place you cite, NI, largely hasn’t, look at the pointless slaughter it’s brought them.

Edit to add, I’ve just read the teachers been suspended. So in looks as though we do actually have quasi blasphemy laws within the education sector. Not good.
 
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Are you right in the 'ead............................why don't you just roll over and accept Sharia law?
 
TSSeasider said:
But they are only do that because he insulted their religion which although not illegal creates that reaction.

If blasphemy was reintroduced he wouldn't have done it.

It works well at keeping the peace in Northern Ireland.
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Well they need to grow up a bit. As you say, it's not illegal.

It's literally down the road from where I live and when you look at the crowd outside, I doubt if more than a third of them are actually parents of Year 9 children.

It was maybe inappropriate but part of a discussion on contentious contemporary issues around faith.
 
I think what TSSeasider means, is that Free speech does come with some understandings.....no obvious hate speech, threatening/abusive...and I would also add racist...but that's hate speech pure and simple.....
 
B_Side_The_C_Side said:
I think what TSSeasider means, is that Free speech does come with some understandings.....no obvious hate speech, threatening/abusive...and I would also add racist...but that's hate speech pure and simple.....
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But my point was then that still isn’t ‘free speech’

As when it’s not truly free, you’re subject to the whims or persuasions of the people checking the speech.

We’re obviously no where near the worst for this, in fact we’re probably one of the best in the world for free speech.

But I do think May’s hate speech laws have not helped down the road with things such as this issue.
 
Rektseasider said:
But my point was then that still isn’t ‘free speech’

As when it’s not truly free, you’re subject to the whims or persuasions of the people checking the speech.

We’re obviously no where near the worst for this, in fact we’re probably one of the best in the world for free speech.

But I do think May’s hate speech laws have not helped down the road with things such as this issue.
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Well we don't have free speech and nothing close to it because we have laws against 'hate speech'.
 
TSSeasider said:
We do, but on this site small corner of the internet, we can't even insult each other according to the sticky post. It is limited in loads of ways.
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But that strays into other freedoms.
The freedom of the site owners to restrict what they think should and shouldn’t happen on this board.

Very nuanced.

The scary part about this topic you raise is the education setting, it’s reaction and potential knock on effects.

Anyway I’ve overdone my limit on posting on politics for the year now

Enjoy.
 
TSSeasider said:
Free speech always comes with caveats though.
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Freedoms are legitimised and facilitated in law by the assigning of rights under the Law. One person's right in law is another's duty to observe that right. It follows, therefore, that rights and freedoms in a society that submits to the rule of law are always conditional on our duties to each other.
 
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Free speech is my right to say to say what you don’t want to hear. (George Orwell). LythamFY8 will no doubt agree ?
 
Matesrates said:
Oh blimey, now you’ve done it, hope no Muslims read this.
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Good point.

Sorry my account was hacked, the prophet truly was receiving messages from God after spending a long time alone in a cave and it's perfectly reasonable to live your life according to the messages from God at the expense of everything and everyone else.

Thank you.
 
The headmaster needs sacking off for not supporting his teacher. His statement has probably escalated the anger and led to the death threats.

Some counter movement is needed to make the point to these people that we live in a society where free speech and comedy are acceptable.

How many jokes about god have there been.
 
Scaramanga said:
Free speech is my right to say to say what you don’t want to hear. (George Orwell). LythamFY8 will no doubt agree ?
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Yes, the actual quote is 'liberty' not free speech but it's the same feeling, although Orwell was reflecting on tolerance and decency being upheld by this, it's slightly misleading as a random quite out of context, he was just pissed off because no one would publish Animal Farm as we were still cordial with the Soviets at the time, he had already seen the folly of Communism when fighting with the International Brigade in Catalonia.
 
Matesrates said:
The headmaster needs sacking off for not supporting his teacher. His statement has probably escalated the anger and led to the death threats.

Some counter movement is needed to make the point to these people that we live in a society where free speech and comedy are acceptable.

How many jokes about god have there been.
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First, you have to have the gonads to accept being labelled Islamaphobic and extremely right-wing. How many when the spotlight is on will have the courage to do that?
 
I see there have been protests and a petition in support of the teacher now.

I think John Cleese had it covered a while back.
 
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