Move to repeal Dutch blasphemy law
Published: March 15, 2008 at 12:54 AM
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, March 15 (UPI) -- Dutch legislators want to repeal the Netherlands' law against blasphemy.
No one has been prosecuted under the law for 40 years -- and the last accused blasphemer was acquitted. Advocates of repeal, including the Labor Party, say this would be a good time to act because of the flap about a movie on the Koran made by Geert Wilders, a right-wing member of parliament, Radio Netherlands reported.
While a majority of the parliament supports repeal, Christian parties want to keep the law on the books, and some even advocate resuming prosecutions.
"It's a law that's been on the books for years, and is never used," said Ton Heerts, a Labor member of parliament. "At some point, we should just get rid of it."
In the 1960s, a student newspaper was convicted of blasphemy for mocking the New Testament. But in 1968, Gerhard van het Reve, who published a fantasy about having sex with God, who had assumed the shape of a donkey, was found not guilty.
No one has been prosecuted under the law for 40 years -- and the last accused blasphemer was acquitted. Advocates of repeal, including the Labor Party, say this would be a good time to act because of the flap about a movie on the Koran made by Geert Wilders, a right-wing member of parliament, Radio Netherlands reported.
While a majority of the parliament supports repeal, Christian parties want to keep the law on the books, and some even advocate resuming prosecutions.
"It's a law that's been on the books for years, and is never used," said Ton Heerts, a Labor member of parliament. "At some point, we should just get rid of it."
In the 1960s, a student newspaper was convicted of blasphemy for mocking the New Testament. But in 1968, Gerhard van het Reve, who published a fantasy about having sex with God, who had assumed the shape of a donkey, was found not guilty.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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