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Norwegian Muslims want blasphemy law
www.aftenposten.no ^ | 01 Feb 2006, 13:13 | Aftenposten English Web Desk/NTB

Posted on 02/01/2006 7:00:39 AM PST by Kurt_Hectic

Norway needs anti-blasphemy regulations to protect minorities against derisive and hateful expression, says lawyer Abid Q Raja.

"The point is not to restrict freedom of speech but to give it direction so that weak groups do not feel insulted or mocked. If we do nothing the differences within Norwegian society will increase in the future," Raja told newspaper Dagsavisen.

Raja's statement comes after the new wave of controversy surrounding caricatures of the prophet Mohammed, first published in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten last September and now recently in the Norwegian Christian weekly Magazinet.

Raja said he perceives the caricatures as a clear insult of Muslims and their faith.

"I would like a new blasphemy regulation that defines limits for what type of offensive expression shall be allowed towards society's minorities," Raja said.

Professor of Public Law Eivind Smith at the University of Oslo is skeptical but believes it is high time to discuss views of blasphemy.

Norwegian law already forbids threats and insults to person on the background of their skin color, nationality, outlook on life or sexual preference. Smith believes it is important than any future tightening of the law favors human rights rather than religion.

"The point is to protect people against insult. God should be able to take care of himself," Smith told Dagsavisen.

Related stories: Danish Mohammed cartoons circulate - 01.02.2006


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blasphemy; europeanmuslims; freedomofspeech; islam; islamofascism; mohammad; norway; sharia
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To: Kurt_Hectic

Can one commit blasphemy if one is not a believer? Such that if one does not believe Allah is the one true God, sacred, etc. How can it be blasphemy?

A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity.
The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.


21 posted on 02/01/2006 7:14:57 AM PST by EBH (Never give-up, Never give-in, and Never Forget)
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To: Kurt_Hectic

PC is the Endangered Species Act for the primitive. Islam at best belongs in a museum.


22 posted on 02/01/2006 7:15:03 AM PST by junta (It's Jihad stupid! Or why should I tolerate those who hate me?)
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To: Kurt_Hectic
Norwegian law already forbids threats and insults to person on the background of their skin color, nationality, outlook on life or sexual preference

I am pretty reluctant to support limitations on free speech and was feeling no sympathy for this idea....until I got to the sentence above.

Since Norwegians have made the idiotic P.C. move of protecting other groups from mocking words, the Muslims seems to me to have a reasonable case (to petition for the complete end of individual liberty of thought and conscience).

23 posted on 02/01/2006 7:15:21 AM PST by LK44-40
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To: Kurt_Hectic
"The point is not to restrict freedom of speech

OK - so far, so good...

but to give it direction so that weak groups do not feel insulted or mocked.

D'OH! I knew there was a catch! There always is.

And I love how he refers to his group as "weak" and in need of special protection so they don't "feel insulted or mocked." I call upon all to mock away!

24 posted on 02/01/2006 7:16:20 AM PST by Freedom_no_exceptions (No actual, intended, or imminent victim = no crime. No exceptions.)
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To: RexBeach

Ain't that the truth.


25 posted on 02/01/2006 7:20:23 AM PST by cchandler
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To: livius

“Sorry, there's no room for a "blasphemy regulation" in any free country.”

Britain has (ancient) blasphemy laws. I know I’m setting myself up for a mocking comeback there but the point is they’re never used and they should be abolished.

I should be able to say “That meal was good enough for Jehova!”

Norway should stear clear of this idea. Can they swallow their pride and admit their Danish neighbours have it right?


26 posted on 02/01/2006 7:26:09 AM PST by FostersExport
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To: Kurt_Hectic

"Norwegian Muslims want blasphemy law"?



Next thing, they'll want ice water sent to Hell for them!


27 posted on 02/01/2006 7:31:52 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (MAY I DIE ON MY FEET IN MY SWAMP)
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To: LK44-40

"Norwegian law already forbids threats and insults to person on the background of their skin color, nationality, outlook on life or sexual preference"

A Norwegian joke book can’t be very long.


28 posted on 02/01/2006 7:32:44 AM PST by FostersExport
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To: Kurt_Hectic
"The point is to protect people against insult. God should be able to take care of himself," Smith told Dagsavisen.

So, we're protecting people from insults now? Them folks out there in Norway must be a sensitive lot. Of course we already know the muslims are crybabies.

29 posted on 02/01/2006 7:33:05 AM PST by zeugma (Muslims are varelse...)
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To: Kurt_Hectic

Here it comes...the only "blasphemy" that will become illegal is "blasphemy" against Islam.


30 posted on 02/01/2006 7:34:32 AM PST by Sometimes A River (allow Common Sense and Faith to trump Logic and Reason)
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To: Kurt_Hectic

31 posted on 02/01/2006 7:34:37 AM PST by MarMema (Steelers favorite local seafood - mud eel chowder)
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To: Kurt_Hectic
I believe Bridget Bardot was recently hauled into court and put in serious jeopardy for some fairly tame anti-immigrant comments.

So today the Euros are looking longingly at free speech in their rear view mirrors.

32 posted on 02/01/2006 7:43:12 AM PST by LK44-40
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To: Kurt_Hectic; All
The point is not to restrict freedom of speech but to give it direction so that weak groups do not feel insulted or mocked.
The doctrine which from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of all sects, when condensed into a few words, and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.

— Macaulay, Sir James Mackintosh.


33 posted on 02/01/2006 7:48:47 AM PST by dighton
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To: Kurt_Hectic; Proud Infidel; Dark Skies; Fred Nerks; jan in Colorado
Kewl!!!

I could start my own religion and say my "god" (I'm going to call my new deity the Mighty Zot in honor of the pagan Zot worshipers on FReep) has "revealed messages" to me thru "angels."

The latest message commands me and my "followers" to "cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve [and] strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip, And slay them wherever ye catch them and fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression" and preach "there is no God but the Mighty Zot and USF is his messenger" as I insult religions my god does not like and draw caricatures of one or two of their founders (hmmm, shall we start with one who lived in the 7th century first) in my "holy book."

Of course I would publish and disseminate this book, my "religious texts" complete with its caricatures and cartoons all over dhimmiland, oops, I mean Norway. All protected by this "blasphemy law" of course.

And then, we would be back to where we started from, unless of course, they decide to abolish similar texts in the Koran, hadeeths and writings of islamic scholars as well...

For now, I'm off to invest some religious beer drinking ceremonies which will come in useful later... it pleases the Mighty Zot.

34 posted on 02/01/2006 7:49:18 AM PST by USF (I see your Jihad and raise you a Crusade ™ © ®)
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To: USF
invest invent
35 posted on 02/01/2006 7:50:58 AM PST by USF (I see your Jihad and raise you a Crusade ™ © ®)
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To: FostersExport

I was very glad to see that the just Brits turned down a sort of modern version of the blasphemy law, btw, which was of course promoted by Muslims.

One thing the Muslims might consider doing if they don't want to be the object of jokes and negative comments is to refrain from cutting off people's heads, blowing up buildings full of innocent civilians, stoning women to death - well, you get the general idea!


36 posted on 02/01/2006 7:52:06 AM PST by livius
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To: Freedom_no_exceptions; Kurt_Hectic

"The point is not to restrict freedom of speech"

OH yes it is! Do they think we are stupid?


37 posted on 02/01/2006 7:55:30 AM PST by kalee
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To: Kurt_Hectic
The point is not to restrict freedom of speech but to give it direction so that weak groups do not feel insulted or mocked.

Baloney. The point is to restrict freedom of speech. No one in a free society has a right to have his beliefs exempt from the criticism or even ridicule of others. Muslims and other thought-control fans need to understand what free speech is about and abide by it's rules, or head for some other country ruled by the repressive ideology of their choice.
38 posted on 02/01/2006 8:04:31 AM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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Comment #39 Removed by Moderator

To: conservative physics
the murderous, child molesting, slave owning, slave girl raping, false profit of evil, mohammad can kiss my ass!

CP, CP, CP! You forgot the traditional honorific!!! Let me fix it for you.

the murderous, child molesting, slave owning, slave girl raping, false profit of evil, mohammad (piss be upon him) can kiss my ass!

There. Much better.

40 posted on 02/01/2006 11:17:49 AM PST by John O (God Save America (Please))
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