Despite Danish repeal, blasphemy laws still common in Europe Lawmakers in Canada, Greece, Ireland among those considering abolition of outdated blasphemy, religious insult provisions
A Pakistani civil society activist cries during a protest in favor of a Pakistani student murdered for alleged blasphemy in April 2017. Despite global condemnation of such incidents, nearly two dozen OSCE member states maintain criminal blasphemy and religions insult laws. EPA/Bilawal Arbab
In voting last month to repeal their country’s centuries-old blasphemy law, Danish lawmakers joined a growing trend in Europe toward securing free speech on matters related to religion.
A comprehensive IPI study on criminal defamation and insult laws published in March by the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) highlighted that the Netherlands (2014), Iceland (2015), Norway (2015), Malta (2016) and France (2017) had all abolished blasphemy laws in recent years.
Recent Posts
Monitoring report: Defamation laws still concern for Europe media
January 30th, 2018
Greek film critic waits 13 years to win insult case
November 10th, 2017
IPI welcomes ECHR ruling in Novaya Gazeta defamation case
October 13th, 2017
New analysis details civil defamation practice in Spain
September 27th, 2017
Polish defence minister seeks charges against journalist
July 12th, 2017
Albania judge’s suit highlights defamation law abuse
July 5th, 2017
Turkey not alone in shielding leaders from criticism
April 20th, 2017
Study: Insulting foreign leaders a crime in 18 OSCE states
April 12th, 2017
Greek journalist arrested on libel charges
April 11th, 2017
Q&A: Hungary rights defender on criminal libel repeal
March 27th, 2017
Study: criminal defamation unduly limits media freedom
March 7th, 2017
Azerbaijani journalist given two-year prison term
March 3rd, 2017
New study analyses civil defamation practice in Hungary
March 2nd, 2017
Q&A: the abuse of libel laws in Malta
February 1st, 2017
Greek defence minister takes on media in libel cases
January 17th, 2017
In Greece, judges’ application of European libel law seen as lacking
January 10th, 2017
In Depth: Libel damages squeeze Ireland’s press
January 4th, 2017
Reforms help Greek journalist avoid €100k libel suit
December 22nd, 2016
Bittersweet end for Greek journalist who won libel trial but lost job
December 7th, 2016
‘Frozen cases’ aim to chill investigative reporting in Greece
October 10th, 2016
IPI concerned by proposed Italian ‘cyber bullying’ measure
October 3rd, 2016
Blog: Charlie Hebdo insult case highlights weaknesses of Italian defamation law
September 19th, 2016
Greek journalist’s libel conviction overturned on appeal
September 15th, 2016
How €3 million libel suit led a Greek journalist to fight for legal change
September 14th, 2016