In one of the answers to my question, someone said that blasphemy is a crime that is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Is this true?
2006-07-15 19:12:25 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I meant "In an answer to one of my questions..."
2006-07-15 19:13:00 · update #1
The offense is in the manner in which the religious reference is used, not simply invoking the name of the Christian saviour.
It hasn't been prosecuted since the mid-1800s, but it is still indeed on the books.
The Criminal Code of Canada recognizes the offence:
296. (1) Every one who publishes a blasphemous libel is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
It is a question of fact whether or not any matter published is a blasphemous libel.
Sub-section (3) provides a defence:
No person shall be convicted of an offence under this section for expressing in good faith and decent language or attempting to establish by argument used in good faith and conveyed in decent language, an opinion on a religious subject.
2006-07-15 19:18:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, blasphemy is only considered a crime in countries ruled by muslin holy leaders. In Canada, people just laugh at the person who called you a blasphemer. We have freedon of speech here. its freer than the US.
2006-07-16 02:18:16 · answer #2 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fundies say the darndest things.
If such a thing were enforced, I'd be in prison to the seventh generation of my offspring...
I'm sure the answer two above me is the correct one and worthy of the ten points, but check out a related question for my answer:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=Asff.eqkHZtwamoLLGdSvkUjzKIX?qid=20060703085207AA2pGla
2006-07-16 18:10:35 · answer #3 · answered by XYZ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to add to tonalc1, it is probably only still on the books because no one has challenged it under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms yet. I imagine that if it is ever challenged, it would be ruled of no force or effect.
2006-07-16 05:54:17 · answer #4 · answered by quintessence19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that is true, I would the hell moved away, from such hypocrites, wankers. peace and love from Norway
2006-07-16 02:17:42 · answer #5 · answered by thefallen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋