Editing Blasphemy (section)

== Backlash against anti-blasphemy laws ==
{{anchor | Backlash | Opposition | Rejections }}

=== Affirmation of Freedom of Speech (FOS) ===
{{anchor | FOS | Freedom | Speech | Freedom of Speech  | Freedom of speech }}

Multilateral global institutes, such as the [[Council of Europe]] and UN, have rejected the imposition of ''"anti-blasphemy laws"'' (ABL) and have affirmed the [[freedom of speech]].<ref name=aff1/><ref name=failed2/>

==== The Council of Europe's rejection of ABL and affirmation of FOS ====
{{anchor | EU }}

The [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]], after deliberating on the issue of blasphemy law passed the resolution that blasphemy should not be a criminal offence,<ref name=aff1>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=17569&lang=en|title=PACE - Recommendation 1805 (2007) - Blasphemy, religious insults and hate speech against persons on grounds of their religion|website=assembly.coe.int}}</ref> which was adopted on 29 June 2007 in the ''"Recommendation 1805 (2007) on blasphemy, religious insults and hate speech against persons on grounds of their religion"''. This Recommendation set a number of guidelines for member states of the [[Council of Europe]] in view of Articles 10 (freedom of expression) and 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the [[European Convention on Human Rights]].

==== UN's rejection of ABL and affirmation of FOS ====
{{anchor | UN }}
{{ main | Defamation of religion and the United Nations }}

After OIC's (''Organisation of Islamic Cooperation'') campaign at UN (United Nations) seeking impose of punishment for "defamation of religions" was withdrawn due to consistently dwindling support for their campaign,<ref name=failed1/> the [[UN Human Rights Committee]] (UNHRC), in July 2011, released a 52-paragraph statement which affirmed the freedom of speech and rejected the laws banning "display of lack of respect for a religion or other belief system'. UNHRC's ''"General Comment 34 - Paragraph 48"'' on the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] (ICCPR) 1976, concerning freedoms of opinion and expression states:<ref name=failed2/>
{{blockquote|Prohibitions of displays of lack of respect for a religion or other belief system, including blasphemy laws, are incompatible with the Covenant, except in the specific circumstances envisaged in article 20, paragraph 2, of the Covenant. Such prohibitions must also comply with the strict requirements of article 19, paragraph 3, as well as such articles as 2, 5, 17, 18 and 26. Thus, for instance, it would be impermissible for any such laws to discriminate in favor of or against one or certain religions or belief systems, or their adherents over another, or religious believers over non-believers. Nor would it be permissible for such prohibitions to be used to prevent or punish criticism of religious leaders or commentary on religious doctrine and tenets of faith.<ref name=failed4>[https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/GC34.pdf#page=12 General Comment 34, p. 12].</ref>}}

=== International Blasphemy Day ===
{{anchor | BD | IBD | Blasphemy Day | International Blasphemy Day | International blasphemy day |  Blasphemy day }}

International [[Blasphemy Day]], observed annually on September 30, encourages individuals and groups to openly express [[criticism of religion]] and [[blasphemy law]]s. It was founded in 2009 by the [[Center for Inquiry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/penn_jillette_celebrates_blasphemy_day/ |title=Penn Jillette Celebrates Blasphemy Day in "Penn Says" |publisher=Center for Inquiry |date=2009-09-29 |access-date=2013-09-30}}</ref> A student contacted the Center for Inquiry in [[Amherst, New York|Amherst]], [[New York (state)|New York]] to present the idea, which CFI then supported. Ronald Lindsay, president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, said, regarding Blasphemy Day, "[W]e think religious beliefs should be subject to examination and criticism just as political beliefs are, but we have a taboo on religion", in an interview with [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/09/30/first.blasphemy.day/ |title=Taking aim at God on 'Blasphemy Day'|work=CNN.com|date= 30 September 2009|first=Moni|last= Basu}}</ref>

Events worldwide on the first annual Blasphemy Day in 2009 included an art exhibit in [[Washington, D.C.]], and a [[free speech]] festival in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name=USAT>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-10-02-blasphemy-day_N.htm|title= Did you celebrate Blasphemy Day?|newspaper=USAToday.com|first=Leanne |last=Larmondin|date= 2 October 2009}}</ref>

=== Removal of blasphemy laws by several nations ===
{{anchor | Remove | Removal }}

Other countries have removed bans on blasphemy. [[France]] did so in 1881 (this did not extend to [[Alsace-Lorraine|Alsace-Moselle region]], then part of Germany, after it joined France) to allow [[freedom of religion]] and [[freedom of the press]]. Blasphemy was abolished or repealed in [[Sweden]] in 1970, [[England]] and [[Wales]] in 2008, Norway with Acts in 2009 and 2015, the Netherlands in 2014, [[Iceland]] in 2015, France for its Alsace-Moselle region in 2016, Malta in 2016, Denmark in 2017,<ref name="Denmark"/> [[Canada]] in 2018, New Zealand in 2019, and Ireland in 2020.<ref>[[Blasphemy law#Ireland]]</ref>