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Dutch approve move to scrap blasphemy law | Dutch approve move to scrap blasphemy law |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Dutch authorities have decided to approve a motion abandoning a law under which it is a crime to insult God. | Dutch authorities have decided to approve a motion abandoning a law under which it is a crime to insult God. |
A majority of parties in parliament said the blasphemy law was no longer relevant in the 21st Century. | A majority of parties in parliament said the blasphemy law was no longer relevant in the 21st Century. |
The legislation, introduced in the 1930s, has not been invoked in the last half century. | The legislation, introduced in the 1930s, has not been invoked in the last half century. |
However, it still remains illegal under Dutch law to be disrespectful to police officers or to insult Queen Beatrix, the country's monarch. | However, it still remains illegal under Dutch law to be disrespectful to police officers or to insult Queen Beatrix, the country's monarch. |
Freedom of speech is a much-cherished right in the liberal and traditionally tolerant Netherlands. | Freedom of speech is a much-cherished right in the liberal and traditionally tolerant Netherlands. |
The BBC's Anna Holligan, in The Hague, says that there was much debate about the issue after a Dutch court ruled that the far-right anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders should be allowed to criticise Islam, even if his outspoken opinions offended many Muslims. | The BBC's Anna Holligan, in The Hague, says that there was much debate about the issue after a Dutch court ruled that the far-right anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders should be allowed to criticise Islam, even if his outspoken opinions offended many Muslims. |
In 2008, a coalition government decided against repealing the blasphemy law in order to maintain support from a conservative Christian political party. |
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