Viviane Reding, the EU Commissioner responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, has said that religious restrictions should not be placed on freedom of expression. Commissioner Reding was responding to a Parliamentary question on blasphemy laws in EU member states, asked by MEPs Sophia in ‘t Veld, Joanna Senyszyn, Cornelis de Jong and Marietje Schaake. Commissioner Reding said that ‘Freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of our democratic societies’, and that legislation on defamation of religions ‘has often been used to mistreat religious minorities and to limit freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief’. She said that ‘no restrictions in the name of religion may be placed on those rights and that religion may never be used to justify or condone the restriction or violation of individual rights’. The British Humanist Association (BHA) welcomes Commissioner Reding’s comments.
The Parliamentary question drew attention to the continued existence of blasphemy laws, and laws which forbid ‘religious insult’ in several EU member states. As part of her reply, Commissioner Reding said that ‘As regards the EU’s external policy, the Council expressed in its November 2009 conclusions its deep concern that in countries that have legislation on defamation of religions, such legislation has often been used to mistreat religious minorities and to limit freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. The Council furthermore underlined that no restrictions in the name of religion may be placed on those rights and that religion may never be used to justify or condone the restriction or violation of individual rights.’
Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented ‘Commissioner Reding is correct to say that religion must not be used as an excuse to violate fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of speech. The blasphemy laws in the UK were finally abolished in May 2008, after the BHA had spent more than a century campaigning for their abolition. Unfortunately, there are many states in Europe, as well as in other parts of the world, which still retain laws against blasphemy, which are frequently invoked in order to crack down on freedom of expression. In addition, although the blasphemy laws in the UK have gone, many religious groups continue to campaign to have books or artworks they disagree with banned or censored. The BHA will be working to oppose such attempts whenever we hear of them, and to uphold freedom of speech.’
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For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanists.uk or on 0773 843 5059.
News item from the European Humanist Federation: European Commission – freedom of expression must not be limited by blasphemy laws:
http://humanistfederation.eu/european-commission-freedom-of-expression-must-not-be-limited-by-blasphemy-laws/
The Parliamentary question on blasphemy laws in EU member states:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fTEXT%2bWQ%2bE-2012-009015%2b0%2bDOC%2bXML%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.