Stephen Fry Blasphemy Investigation

[ludwig]

I thought this was a joke article from one of those spoof news sites when I first saw it. There are lots of questions here but I'll go with 'Does anyone think he'll actually be charged with the offence?'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/06/stephen-fry-police-investigation-blasphemy-branding-god-utter/

[Mamyalynne]

It is indeed baza - nowt so strange as folk.

[ummmm]

I think he was just proving a point about a stupid law and using Stephen Fry gets it the publicity.

This case might see a change in the law. Then it might have all been worth it.

I doubt Stephen Fry is losing any sleep over it...

And like I said earlier in the thread the Irish Blaspheme more than any other nation I've experienced.

[andy-hughes]

Today's media confirms that the charge has been dropped - apparently they couldn't find enough outraged people to make a case of it.

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39857543

[Old_Geezer]

"as there was no injured party"
But what about God ????

[mikey4444]

I think that was exactly Fry's point OG.......what about God indeed !

[Old_Geezer]

They've been injured, wounded to the quick.

[douglas9401]

He forgives, Old Geezer.

[Old_Geezer]

Why ? What have I done ? Should I be worried ?

[naomi24]

Rubbish response, Khandro, or were you sliding into enigmatic mood again?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Some of you will find a joke, or even a sneer, in this news item.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39853280

[xstitcher]

I read somewhere yesterday that the charges were dropped because there weren't enough complaints.

[Khandro]

naomi //Rubbish response, Khandro,//
You won't say that when you get the soft-cushion torture.

[mikey4444]

xstitcher....there was only one complainer !

[naomi24]

Khandro, what do you think of v_e's link?

[EDDIE51]

I am sure as has been suggested, that this case is being brought only to highlight the absurdity of the Irish Blasphemy law. It has no hope of actually succeeding.
Fry insulted 'God' not Christianity , as far as I am aware Christianity, Judaism and Islam all worship the same God. So this is as much an insult to Judaism and Islam as it is to Christianity.

[mikey4444]

Well said Eddie !.......now that this storm in a tea cup is effectively finished, can we debate something else please !

[naomi24]

Mikey, some of us are still talking about blasphemy laws.

[Khandro]

naomi; it's horrific, but even worse, (because of the time element) is what many of us have been following, the desperate case of Asia Bibi the Christian mother of 5 who has been on death row for 6 years in that hell-hole called Pakistan for alleged blasphemy;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/07/final-appeal-set-for-pakistani-christian-woman-facing-execution/
there's even a wikipedia site on her plight. If these Imams think she has blasphemed then they must also think Fry has done also, because "Allah" and "God" are one and the same and if they were to turn on him he would quickly drop his ranting.

[slaney]

I really like the "insufficient outrage" ...
Irish blasphemy laws cannot be simply repealed as they are written into the 1937 constitution and need a referendum to change. The Irish government promised one as far back as 2014. To be fair they may have had more pressing things to do than go to the expense of holding a referendum on a outdated law seeing as no-one has been successfully prosecuted since 1855.
The 2009 Act was an interim measure pending a referendum and was couched in such a way to make prosecution very difficult.

Interestingly blasphemy laws were repealed in the UK in 2008 in England and Wales, but remain in law in Northern Ireland - Scotland's position is less clear.