India is a country of religion and spirituality. It has a law against blasphemy.
Section 295A, Indian Penal Code: Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.— Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise], insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
The Indian Penal Code embodied some relics of English medieval ecclesiastical law.
It is high time India changes its penal code as it does not have many safeguards to freedom of speech and expression.
Today The Times Of India, the most prestigious, popular, and the most circulated newspaper in India published my tweet about blasphemy : Everybody has the right to blaspheme.
I believe the editors of The Times of India believe that everybody has the right to blaspheme. I believe they will do everything possible to make India abolish the law against blasphemy. If India abolished it, Bangladesh and Pakistan would be inspired to abolish their anti-blasphemy laws. The subcontinent would be a sane place.
I hope you’re right. I don’t think that alone will deliver the sanity the subcontinent desperately needs, but it’d be step forward.
Unfortunately, for too many people who are otherwise reasonable, that translates to: “Everybody has the right to blaspheme… unless it’s against MY religion, which is the ONE TRUE WAY and NOT to be mocked, and if you defame or insult the Great Sky Daddy then He could smite Boise, Idaho to teach you a lesson!” (Historical accounts to the contrary, the Great Sky Daddy seems of late to have atrocious accuracy when it comes to smiting, often being a continent or two off-target, or indulging in gratuitous overkill, or frequently both.)
I’d take that even further, everybody has the duty to blaspheme.
If you want to live in a secular democracy there has to be constant push bask against the intrusion of goat herder morality into the conversation that needs to take place between it’s citizens.
If any of the claimed “gods” were powerful enough to create the universe, then they are powerful enough to punish blasphemers themselves. The fact that they don’t kill you or me tells you one of two things:
(1) The “gods” don’t exist, so blasphemy is a made up “crime”.
(2) The “gods” don’t object to blasphemy and are not “offended” by the words of humans. If the “gods” were offended, they’d kill blasphemers themselves and not need followers to do it. Their lack of action proves that they’re not “offended” – if they exist at all
Either way, blasphemy is a non-issue. Those who claim offense aren’t “acting on god’s behalf”, they’re trying to use physcial and legal force to silence criticism and commentary.
God spoke to me while I was changing a flat tire. He told me that all the holy books and religions were created by satan in order to make humanity miserable. God then asked me to post this information on Taslimas blog. You are now informed by the one true source. Feel free to roam the planet.
Thank you for the information. : )
My last comment to the Managements of WordPress.com and freethoughtblogs.com: Your ethnicity is a tool powerful enough not to care for a member’s opinions you always arbitrarily brand as ‘Possible Imposters’ because of my ethnicity you can easily figure out by name and other information. It is better to avoid using your website or any portal, a way of gathering intelligence. It is me at fault of joining you on my own. No one else is to blame but I myself. Please forgive my mistake. Please delete my information from all your sites,if possible.
Democratic law in India offers democracy to religious fanatism / vandalism expecting no one else would / should be hurt by the act. But if someone points a fingre at religious beliefs is to be charged under blaspheme ! Ultimate democracy ! 🙁
You mean section of the IPC is removed to create anarchy in the country and allow you as foreigner to abuse any religion you desire living in India- Freedom of speech has different connotation-you are at liberty to speak what ever right you think but under the law ! We are taking advantage of such freedom in India since long and not feeling any attack on our freedom of speech and liberty!
There is no abuse Dr Taslima has made. It is the believers who wish to frame in there choice for any opinion. It is the believers who see abuse in a plain sentence as they have been taught in their respective religions.
Freedom of speech in India is limited till you do not criticize the crooked means of rich and powerful and religion. There are also tax paying citizen in the country who not want to see ANY religious threats / vandalism / display of arrogance and demands peaceful governance free from any religious involvement.
Fuck Russels teapot. The damn thing has brought nothing but misery. Anyone who believes in Russels teapot is an idiot. And while I’m at it the Iliad & Odyssey aren’t completely true, in fact most of it is fiction. Anyone who believes in them as fact is an idiot.
Am I going to jail for saying so?
Don’t you mean saner place?
I don’t think that Narendra Dabholkar’s murder wouldn’t have happened if the laws were revoked before then.
Yes, of course, everybody must have the right to blaspheme. The right to blaspheme is our fundamental right . It will help our society as well as our country to fight and combat all evil forces like superstitions,religious fundamentalism etc. So, I do support you that India should take measure for necessary change in the constitution to provide right to blaspheme in India.
Today The Times Of India, the most prestigious,…
Disagree
Everybody has the right to blaspheme.
Agree
silly, useless and idiotic. what a waste of time.
Don’t turn your right to dissent over to terrorists, extremists and democrats.
Ask your representatives:
What are their views on Sharia Law?
What do they think about the following statements:
The West Will Tolerate Itself To Death.
Why Do We Tolerate Violence Against Women?
What are their plans to halt violence against women around world including:
1) Female genital mutilation
2) Punishing rape victims
3) Honor killing
4) Strapping bombs to children
5) Sexually enslaving women
6) Murdering homosexuals
7) Child marriage
8) Domestic Violence
9) Disciplining or Punishing Wives