Ireland’s blasphemy law is being cited by Islamic states “as
justification” for persecuting religious dissidents, according to an
exiled Indian campaigner for free speech.
Sanal Edamaruku, who is
on a five-day visit to Ireland, is facing charges of blasphemy in his
home country after challenging claims that water dripping from a revered
statue in Mumbai was a miracle.
Sections of the Catholic Church
in India complained last April to the police who sought his arrest under
charges that carry a three-year sentence. He has since fled to Finland
which has granted him a residency permit.
“World public opinion
has to be raised to this issue. I am not so much worried about me; I am
worried about the end of these laws,” said Mr Edamaruku, who is founder
president of Rationalist International.
He said he was “surprised”
by Ireland’s decision two years ago to introduce a law on blasphemy,
something the Fianna Fail-led government claimed was necessarily to
comply with the constitution. Pakistan and other countries have referred
to the statute at the United Nations to support their own blasphemy
laws.
Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland, which invited Mr
Edamaruku for a series of public meetings, criticised the coalition’s
decision to refer the issue to the constitutional convention which meets
for the first time on Saturday.
“Both parties (Fine Gael and
Labour) say they are committed to getting rid of the law - so the effect
is simply to delay it happening.”
Mr Edamaruku, a critic of
various religious figures including Mother Theresa and Amma “the hugging
saint”, speaks at NUI Galway this evening at 7pm, and Malone Lodge,
Belfast tomorrow at 7pm. He then travels to London and Berlin.