Success! MLAs vote to repeal blasphemy laws in Northern Ireland

Today, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) voted 57 to 24 in favour of repealing blasphemy laws in Northern Ireland. Alliance MLA Connie Egan tabled the amendment to the Justice Bill, which is now set to repeal the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Humanists has long campaigned for the repeal of Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws and welcomes today’s vote as a significant signal for freedom of expression and the rights of the non-religious and religious minorities.

Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator commented:

‘This is an exciting and long-awaited victory for freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief in Northern Ireland. We are incredibly grateful to Connie Egan MLA for bringing this important amendment.

‘We have campaigned for the repeal of these archaic blasphemy laws for years, and today’s vote not only set us en route to be in line with the rest of the UK and Ireland, but sends a powerful signal to the rest of the world that no-one should face criminal sanctions for saying what they believe, or for challenging religious ideas.’

What are blasphemy laws and why are they bad?

Blasphemy laws criminalise the subjective notion of ‘insulting’ religious sentiments. This violates not only the right to freedom of expression but the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) itself. FoRB doesn’t only protect those who hold religious beliefs. It protects humanists and atheists, including those who have left a religion, to hold and express their beliefs too.

This means that non-religious people and people from religious minorities risk contravening blasphemy laws simply for saying what they believe. The existence of blasphemy laws, even when unenforced, can embolden extremists and legitimise blasphemy-related harassment. Silencing so-called ‘blasphemy’ stifles the open debate that is necessary for a plural, tolerant society to flourish. Their existence in liberal democracies also signals to repressive states that censorship of and punishment for so-called religious insult are acceptable.

Why is the repeal of blasphemy laws from Northern Ireland so important?

Even so-called ‘dead letter laws’ can be reactivated at any time. In Denmark in 2017, blasphemy laws were invoked after 46 years of being unused. In the same year, Humanists UK patron Stephen Fry was investigated for potentially breaking the Republic of Ireland’s blasphemy law, which had not been used since it was passed in 2009.

Mubarak Bala, former President of the Nigerian Humanist Association, who was imprisoned for four-and-a-half years out of a 24-year jail sentence for blasphemy in Nigeria, was told that ‘even the British have blasphemy laws’ as he was arrested. This demonstrates that, even if a law has not recently been used to prosecute an individual, its very existence has negative consequences for human rights around the world.

In another example, when Pakistan, on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), tried (and failed) to create an international standard that prohibited ‘defamation of religion’, it took its definition directly from Ireland’s laws on blasphemous libel, despite it being unused at that time. In 2020, blasphemy ceased to be a criminal offence in the Republic of Ireland after the public voted overwhelmingly for blasphemy to be removed from the Irish Constitution. It can therefore no longer be referenced as an excuse.

Northern Ireland Humanists says it’s time for Northern Ireland to follow suit. Blasphemy laws were repealed in England and Wales in 2008 and Scotland in 2024, making Northern Ireland the last part of the UK to still have blasphemy laws.

Northern Ireland Humanists and the road to repeal

In 2019, Northern Ireland Humanists launched its campaign to repeal Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws, calling on members to ask their MLAs to support the repeal. After almost 1,000 emails were sent, all the major political parties in Northern Ireland came out in favour of supporting repeal, with only the DUP opposed.

Northern Ireland Humanists worked with Justice Minister Naomi Long to secure the repeal of Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws. In 2021, the Department of Justice had hoped to bring about repeal through a forthcoming Bill. However, for the Bill to go ahead with enough time to be considered by the Assembly, the focus had to be narrowed to reform laws relating to sexual offences and protections for trafficking victims only. This meant that blasphemy was no longer within the scope of the Bill. Movement on the repeal slowed while the Northern Ireland Assembly was on a two-year hiatus until 2024.

Since the Assembly’s return, Northern Ireland Humanists has continued to meet with MLAs and has written to the Committee for Justice urging it to take steps towards securing the repeal of blasphemy laws and to support any opportunities that should arise. It welcomed Connie Egan’s amendment when it was tabled earlier this year, and has been briefing MLAs since.

What happens next?

Today’s vote took place during the Justice Bill’s Consideration Stage. This is the point where MLAs debate the Bill in detail and vote on proposed changes, known as amendments. By voting for Connie Egan MLA’s amendment, MLAs have agreed to add the repeal of blasphemy laws to the Bill. This is a major step forward, but the repeal is not yet law. The Justice Bill must still pass its Further Consideration Stage, where MLAs can make more changes, and then its Final Stage, where MLAs vote on the Bill as a whole. If the Bill passes, it will go through final legal checks before receiving Royal Assent and becoming an Act. Northern Ireland Humanists will continue to work with MLAs to make sure this important repeal stays in the Bill and becomes law.