Muhammad: The "Banned" Images Blog Free Speech at Risk

“How the Irish [Who] Saved Civilization” Returned to Medievalism

In a further blow to free speech, it is now a crime in Ireland to criticize religion. The country's new law describes blasphemy as “publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted,” with a fine of up to about $35,000. Noting that the law is an attempt to appease rabid Muslims, one commentator said: "My own personal theory is that it actually had to do with the Danish cartoon controversy of about four years ago," he says. "That there was a fear that we might get a Danish cartoon-style controversy in Ireland — that some newspaper might publish something that Muslims found highly offensive — and it might have repercussions for Irish trade in the Muslim world." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122225249