Blasphemy Flashcards
What act was put in place instead of the Blasphemy Act?
The Race and Religious Hatred Act
When was the Race and Religious Hatred Act introduced?
2006
What does blasphemy mean?
Speaking in a derogatory way about God, his teachings, the Bible and Jesus
Is denying God’s being blasphemy?
Yes
Who was the last person to be sent to prison for blasphemy in the UK?
William Gott
When was William Gott sentenced?
1921
What was William Gott sentenced for?
Publishing pamphlets poking fun at the scriptures and comparing Jesus to a circus clown
What was released after the poem which caused widespread public protests?
Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ was met by public protests from many religious groups
Who said in 2002 the Blasphemy Laws were ineffective?
Select Committee of the House of Lords
What did the Select Committee say should happen to the Blasphemy Laws?
They should be extended to all religious faiths or abolished
When was the Blasphemy Law abolished in England and Wales?
July 2008
How many complaints did the BBC receive for the ‘Jerry Springer Opera’?
63,000
Who were the complaints from?
Christian viewers who were offended by a scene which portrayed Jesus as homosexual
Who tried to bring a private prosecution of the ‘Jerry Springer Opera’?
Christian Voice tried to bring a private prosecution but was rejected
Who said the blasphemy law was contradictory to Freedom of Speech?
Judges and politicians
Where is blasphemous libel still an offence?
Scotland
Where is Blasphemy still an offence?
Northern Ireland?
Is the law as strict in Scotland?
As Scotland has the Human Rights Act 1988 they are less likely to be offended by blasphemy
Who took a private prosecution in 1977 against the publishers of ‘Gay News’?
Nationwide Festival of Light - an evangelical Christian group
Why was there a prosecution against the publishers of ‘Gay News’?
They published the poem ‘The Love who Dares not Speak its Name’ who displayed Jesus as homosexual
Who wrote the ‘Satanic Verses’ in 1988?
Salaman Rushdie
What was Salaman Rushdie accused of?
He was accused of blasphemy by Islamic groups
What was issued in 1989 for Rushdie?
A Fatwa calling for his death
Why were the calls for blasphemy refused against Rushdie?
The blasphemy laws only covered Christianity
How far does the Blasphemy Law go back?
Centuries
Why was the Blasphemy Law brought about?
Religion especially Christianity was seen as the heart of society, to question/threaten that was to question/threaten society
In 1838 what was the purpose of the Blasphemy Law?
To protect the ‘tenants and beliefs of the Church of England’
What did Mitch Benn Satirical songwriter say about the Blasphemy Law?
“Nobody has the right to be offended.”
Who was offended by the programme Father Ted?
Irish Catholic Priests were offended by Father Ted as they believed it over stepped the mark
What film was banned in some areas of the UK as late as 2008?
‘The Life of Brian’
Who was sentenced to hang for blasphemy?
A Pakistani Woman Asia Bibi
How long has Asia Bibi been on death row?
Since 2010
What was Asia Bibi convicted of?
She was convicted of insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad during an argument over a glass of well water
What video was said to offended Muslims?
Katy Perry’s video ‘Dark Horse’?
Why was ‘Dark Horse’ deemed offensive?
Katy Perry in the video shoots a laser at Pharaoh wearing a symbol which said Allah in Arabic and was later disintegrated along with the Pharaoh
What did Shazad Iqbal claim Perry did not have the right to do?
The freedom to insult or blaspheme people’s deities under the protection of free speech
What did Shazad Iqbal do as a result of the video?
He put on an online petition which gained 65,000 signatures to take off Perry’s video immediately
What was the “Charlie Hebdo” incident?
The magazine editors published a satirical cartoon of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad offending a minority, these men went in a shot the employees of the company
What did protesters in Pakistan say about the incident in France?
25,000 marches shouted: “Death to France!”, “Death to the blasphemers” and “(We are) ready to sacrifice life for Muhammad”
What did many people feel the shootings were an attack on?
Freedom of Speech
What do people believe is a middle standard?
Free speech applies to those who mock Islam whilst Muslims are penalised for expressing their own provocative views
Who are Britain fearful of criticising?
Islam
What has Britain been given?
A self-imposed blasphemy law
What should the press be encouraged to do?
They should be encouraged to print controversial material instead they fear they are criticising a religion
What did Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey say?
“A de facto blasphemy law is operating in Britain today. The fact is the publishers and newspapers live in fear of criticising Islam”
What does the Archbishop argue the blasphemy laws are?
Unjust and outdated
What did Chancellor George Osborne say?
“Magazines should publish what they want…without fearing that armed gunmen are going to come through the door and kill them.”
What did Salman Rushdie condemn the attack on Charlie Hebdo as?
An assault on free speech
What are Muslims calling for in the UK?
Blasphemy laws
What do some people argue blasphemy laws contribute to?
Increasing intolerance, violence, injustice and widely open to misuse
What do people argue the law is?
Very poorly defined
What did Lord Denning say on the blasphemy laws?
“The offence of blasphemy is now a dead letter”
What do some people argue religions should be strong enough to do?
Defend themselves
What has been argued against blasphemy laws in regards to Britain currently being a multicultural society?
Blasphemy laws are unacceptable in a multicultural society
What social media site has violated the freedom of speech regulations?
What is the official policy on violence and threats on Twitter?
“You may not publish or post direct, specific threats of violence against others.”
What has the reports of threatening messages and death threats been responded by?
“We have found the reported comment is currently no in violation of the Twitter rules at this time.”
What did Stephen Fry say about the Blasphemy laws in the UK?
“I’m afraid I don’t believe there is such a thing as blasphemy, just outrage from those insecure in their own faith.”
What quote highlights many’s views on the Charlie Hebdo incident?
“The murders had nothing to do with Islam, Muslims or Islamic blasphemy laws. They certainly had something to do with Western foreign policy or domestic Islamophobia. But by the way Charlie Hebdo is a racist magazine.”
How many convictions were there between 2008-09?
10,690
How many people were prosecuted by the CPS in 2008-09?
11,624
