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.