Northern lights in Iceland

Source: RT.com

The Pirate Party, which has just three MPs in the Icelandic parliament but is leading in opinion polls, has had its first bill signed into law, decriminalizing “blasphemy.” Churches opposed the move.

The motion passed by the Iceland’s parliament repealed a 75-year-old blasphemy law, which made “ridicule or insult” of the doctrine of legally recognized religious community a crime punishable by a fine or a prison term of up to three months.

The bill was introduced by the Pirate Party in January in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France. As the vote was under way on Thursday in the Althing, all three MPs from the party stood before fellow legislators and declared “Je suis Charlie” in solidarity with the French satirical publication, The Iceland Monitor reported.

One MP voted against the bill, while three abstained. All four are from the current ruling coalition.

Norway repeals blasphemy law in symbolic snub to Charlie Hebdo attack

In decriminalizing blasphemy, Iceland is following the example of Norway, which passed a similar measure in May in a gesture of support for freedom of expression.

Several churches opposed Iceland repealing the 75-year-old blasphemy law, arguing that it would pave the way to hate speech.

“Unlimited and unrestricted freedom of expression, without any sense of responsibility or natural social constraints, may lead to psychological abuse of individuals or groups. The Catholic Church in Iceland cannot and will not accept this new possibility of inflicting psychological abuse on individuals or groups,” the church said in a statement.

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