Council of Europe body says blasphemy should not be illegal

The body's constitutional law experts argued that while inciting religious hatred should be a criminal offence, blasphemy comes under freedom of expression.

29.05.09, EXPATICA (DE). Blasphemy is part of a person's freedom of expression and should not be made illegal, a Council of Europe advisory body said in a report published Wednesday. The body's constitutional law experts argued that while inciting religious hatred should be a criminal offence, as is the case with almost all of the Council of Europe's 56 members, blasphemy comes under freedom of expression. The Venice Commission also noted a distinction between blasphemy and insults prompted by a person's religion. Blasphemy is punishable by death under the laws of Muslim countries. Many European countries also have laws against blasphemy, but rarely use them.