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Norway ends blasphemy law because of Charlie Hebdo jihad massacre

May 8, 2015 7:56 pm By Robert Spencer

MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAThis is interesting: just as the U.S. is instituting a de facto blasphemy law, Norway is abandoning its de jure one. “Norway ends blasphemy law after Hebdo attack,” The Local, May 7, 2015:

Norway has scrapped its longstanding blasphemy law, meaning it is now legal to mock the beliefs of others, in a direct response to January’s brutal attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The proposal to rush through the change was made in February by Conservative MP Anders B. Werp and Progress Party MP Jan Arild Ellingsen, who argued that the law “underpins a perception that religious expressions and symbols are entitled to a special protection”.

“This is very unfortunate signal to send, and it is time that society clearly stands up for freedom of speech,” the two wrote in their proposal.

Norway’s parliament first voted to scrap the blasphemy law back in 2009, against strong opposition from the Christian Democrat party. But the move has yet to come into force because the country’s new penal code remains delayed by problems updating the computer systems used by police and prosecutors.

The decision to push through the change was attacked as “cultural suicide” by Finn Jarle Sæle, editor of the Norwegian Christian weekly, Norge IDAG.

But the change will be largely symbolic.

The last time anyone was tried for blasphemy in Norway was back in 1933, when the writer Arnulf Overland was prosecuted for giving a lecture titled “Christianity, the tenth plague” to the Norwegian Students’ Society. He was acquitted.

The last time anyone was actually convicted was in 1912, when the journalist Arnfred Olsen was taken to court for an article criticising Christianity in the radical magazine Freethinkers.

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Filed Under: blasphemy, Norway Tagged With: Anders B. Werp


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Comments

  1. Don McKellar says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    Amazing. This is exactly the sort of response that is expected of the governments of the modern advanced world, but we’re just not seeing so far. Remarkable considering how active and destructive the left-fascists and their Islamic supremacist masters have been in Norway in recent years. Has a political change occurred in Norway when nobody was looking? Expect reprisals from the religion of pieces, I predict.

    • Nathan says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:02 pm

      Well at least you won’t be sued…. that’s 75% of the problem…. gone! at no cost, to anybody!

    • Januk36 says

      May 9, 2015 at 1:27 am

      “This is exactly the sort of response that is expected of the governments of the modern advanced world”
      —
      Not what you can expect from the post-modern world.

      Rationality has been deconstructed into superstition.

    • Lia Wissing says

      May 9, 2015 at 5:14 am

      Go, Norway!

      • spot on says

        May 9, 2015 at 10:31 am

        Going full circle back to the past… nice.

    • particolor says

      May 9, 2015 at 6:41 am

      A Rapid increase in Rabid Wolves can be expected ??

      • shrugger says

        May 9, 2015 at 9:35 am

        *Rabid [Lone] Wolves

      • RG says

        May 9, 2015 at 1:23 pm

        Not so fast there, ‘particolor’…. These muzzie thugs know one language, only – hatred and thuggery! The truth is, they’re nothing but a bunch of CRY-BABY SISSIES when the rubber meets the road. They scream the ‘inequality’ and ‘persecution’ mantra every time someone gets up in their faces! It’s HIGH TIME we STICK IT TO THEM ROYALLY! They are actually scared out of their skin at anyone who DARES to call their bluff!

        I say, YOU GO, NORWAY!!!! And, a big YES to ‘Nathan’. You’re absolutely right about ‘being sued’ – that is definitely way over 75% of the problem because the FAT CATS don’t give a damn about anybody but themselves and their $200,000 Lamborghinis!

        P.S. It’s beside the point but, for all I know a Lamborghini could cost half a million or more.

    • John Magne Trane says

      May 9, 2015 at 7:53 am

      Norway has a minority government of two “blue” parties, the liberal Frp (Progress party) and the liberal-conservative (sorry for the head ache folks= Høyre (Right). They usually get their support from two other non-socialistic parties the liberal Venstre (Left) and Krf (Christian Folk Party). They have ruled since september 2013.

      The two previous govenrments from 2005, was lead by the current NATO General Secretary Stoltenberg from AP (Labour), SV (Socialistic Left) and SP (Center party, who was earlier in the non-socialistic bloc. They explaint their switch with the claim that it was all the other parties who changed their policies…).

      During those 2 periods, Norway imported an unprecedented number of immigrants, both from the Moslem world, and from East Europe, thanks to the Norwegian affiliation with EU through the trade treaties of EEA. The portion of Norwegians in the population fell by 8%, and the number of rapes have doubled since the turn of the millenium.

      That “red-green” alliance tried to “sneak in” hijab etc in Norwegian courts, but was soundly defeated after a popular outcry. They also tried to instigate a shiny new blasphemy law, which of course was met wth loud criticism.

      • particolor says

        May 9, 2015 at 8:04 am

        Good for You !! Now Reverse the Immigration and Kick the Barsteds out before You are Speaking Arabic !!

        • John Magne Trane says

          May 9, 2015 at 8:34 am

          If only…

          There is a change in the public where the lies of the Left aren’t as unopposed as they used to. Currently they’re trying to force the govt to import even more immigrants, but it is mostly the leaders of the parties, and all those who work in the insanely enlarged “Asylum Industrial Complex” (to paraphrase Ike), who still support it. And support it vehemently I might add.

        • particolor says

          May 9, 2015 at 8:45 am

          Just like here My Friend !! I think I will just have to acquire a taste for Rancid Goats Milk and Date Pudding !! 🙁
          🙂 Halal of Coarse !!

  2. Angemon says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    Norway has scrapped its longstanding blasphemy law, meaning it is now legal to mock the beliefs of others, in a direct response to January’s brutal attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

    Eh. So there are still Nordics with a backbone. Good to know.

  3. Fritz Lohlhaas says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:19 pm

    Bravo! Bravo! BRAVO!!!

  4. Baucent says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    Correct me if I’m wrong but I understand a “right of centre” government was elected in Norway a year or so ago. One of the first in the slow but steady rejection of the “left” that is still happening in Europe. Of course today blasphemy laws are used mainly to protect Islam.

  5. William Lucas Harvey Jr. says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    Wish the United States would have the same “Chutzpah” to follow suit.

    However, with America’s apparent “Pro Islam”, “Pro Muslim”, and “Obama defends the ‘true peaceful nature of Islam’ Imperial Potus”, seemingly “Anti America”, “Anti Constitution”, and “Anti Christian”, it’s more likely that “Blasphemy Laws” and “Sharia Law” could actually come to the U.S.A.

    It’s good that he and his Administration will soon be out, but I fear the damage he has already done to America, in his attempt to see that the “Black Flag of Islam” fly’s over the White House, replacing the American Flag, might take decades to undo, IF it can ever be undone at all.

    • Paul says

      May 8, 2015 at 9:04 pm

      Take heart William.

    • Lilithwept says

      May 8, 2015 at 11:52 pm

      I despair at damage Obama has done to the US…..and what he may continue to do. We all know he loves power, being in control. Do you think for one second that he will give that up? Nope, he will continue to stick around Washington, most likely as an ” advisor” of some kind.
      From the responses I am reading on sites like this, there is a huge number of Americans that are literally sick of the Left and would vote in a Conservative president. I just dont what the pendulum of politics to swing from Far Left to Far Right. I am afraid of that ” far”, of that extreme, its extremes that cause problems. But what does often happen in reaction is that swing from one extreme to another.
      We just need to find a president who will address our concents, the common sense stuff like close our damn borders!, slow down or stop immigration unless you can investigate the persons wanting in.
      And crack down extremely hard on Islam, if we cant prosribe it as a religion ( removing it from the protection of the Freedom of religion amendment) then at least realize that it is dangerous, investigate and close the mosques, dont allow any more to be built.

      Break up places like Deerborn, MI. When a non muslim cant walk the streets of an American town without getting assaulted for the way they dress or just for being non muslim, then somthing major is wrong!!!

      Stop allowing Muslims to playbthe victim card. They are NOT the cictims and its darn time everyone realizes it. If they are to be allowed a place in our countrybthen they need to get off their Quranic inspired ” muslims are the best of peoples” superior ideas and realize they are just one of many religions permitted and there will be no special treatment. And if they even breathe a threat riot or kill because of something that happens in America or a political decision they dont like, then its instant deportation. If they were born in America then , see if an Islamic country will take them or put them in Gitmo as a threatvto national security!!! I am sick of ” outraged”or “offended” muslims holding us hostage, in our own country, with threats of violence and killing every time their delicate sensibilities are offended.

      Stop giving Islam special privileges over other religions, like rooms to pray in, foot baths for their preprayer washing, breaks for prayers. We dont do those things for other religions….. And ban the niqab or burqua, headscarfs are allowanle, for now, but it should be a requirement that you see someones face if you do any sort of business with them at all.
      There are a ton more things that need addressed , but the safety of Americans is of paramount importance.
      Now hope and pray a man will run for president that will address these concents and we can bet him elected.

      • knightsstrength says

        May 9, 2015 at 9:25 am

        Good say, could not have said it better.

      • Georgina says

        May 9, 2015 at 7:16 pm

        I get the impression that many more would vote conservative if only the “Right” were not quite so far right. They too seem to prefer a theocracy – just a different religion. Too many Americans are now secular to appreciate a religiously guided right wing government.
        If only the left were more honest (ok, oxymoron) about their true aims, and the right more dedicated to the constitution – rather than the bible – there would be hope.

        Given the choice, a christian theocracy is better than an islamic theocracy, but true American secularism is better than both.

      • Lesley says

        May 10, 2015 at 9:15 am

        @Lilithwept: Donald Trump may be the person to fix this for us. He publically spoke out against the AFDI event, but if you watch his speeches as of late, I have the distinct impression that he understands the mess we are in (and probably excoriated our beloved Pam to appear more to the left than he actually is on this issue of Islam).

        He would fix our economy. He’s, “Protestant” so he has Judeo-Christian values without swinging so far to the right that he doesn’t believe that dinosaurs existed. Here’s a link to a http://www.shoebat.com article with a video of Trump’s speech:

        http://shoebat.com/2015/05/09/watch-trump-speaking-frankly-as-did-general-patton-he-rips-obama-traitors-lobbyists-politicians-and-environmentalists-with-some-choice-words-calling-bergdahl-a-piece-of-garbage/

        He’s enough of an alpha-male that he wouldn’t take any BS from Iran, or China, or Russia. He says in this video that he would build a wall on our southern border and have Mexico pay for it. If anyone could do all the things he said, it’s him.

        He loves this country… and he would see to it that our best interests (financial interests, security interests) are put first. He’s created an empire and employed thousands upon thousands of people already. He’s too big to be bought by lobbyists.

        He called Bergdahl a piece of garbage in the video. He’s restraining himself when talking about Islam, but watch the video– he knows what’s up. It’s very encouraging :0)

      • Emjay See says

        Jun 26, 2015 at 11:52 am

        Why don’t Muslims (of whatever school) learn to assimilate?

  6. Scott says

    May 8, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    What a breath of fresh air. The Norwegians finally realized that it has become necessary to fight for their Norwegian cultural identity. Congratulations to you Norway!
    Hopefully, you’ll get you Swedish neighbors to get out of the sauna and see the light…..
    Much of Malmo (Sweden’s second largest city) is a “no go zone” for non Muslims….

    • John Magne Trane says

      May 9, 2015 at 8:40 am

      The Swedes aren’t in the typical Finnish sauna. They’re on their High Horse as the World Leader in Humanitarianism and the World Power of Immigration. Insanity is rife.

      Their previous PM even claimed Sweden didn’t belong to the Swedes, but to the immigrants…

  7. Kepha says

    May 8, 2015 at 10:27 pm

    As someone whose own dear departed mother (Gud hville henne) was a Norske Jente, I can only ask: What’s dumber than a dumb Swede? A smart Norwegian.

    This is the story of modern Western law. The Left passes a turkey of a law to please a perpetually perturbed constituency; then the Right overturns it to allow the Left to continue its own ultimately self-destructive assault on the very religion that pulled Norway out of a bloodthirsty and ugly paganism almost as evil as Islam itself (I mean Christianity, not Islam).–because the Left, wise in its own conceits, will blame Christians for all the crimes of “religion” and mock them at every turn, when the only such ones on the horizon are committed by Muslims **Bismullah**.

    Sure, I’ll take my lumps. I’m a Christian born in the middle of the smug, self-satisfiedly, self-righteously secular and ultra-destructive 20th century. But I remain aware that God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that is) is not mocked, and proud, self-consciously blasphemous Western man may well be reaping what he has been proudly sowing for the last two centuries.

    • MKG says

      May 9, 2015 at 1:51 am

      Your joke is tasteless and a slap in the face to all Norwegians. What’s the matter with you?

      Northern Pagans fought tooth and nail against a foreign religion that spread throughout Europe by the edge of the sword. Yes they lost. It was a violent time, and even though Chritianity brought our Savior and some stability to the north, nobody on this earth has clean hands. In your self satisfaction you should think about giving our ancestors a little more credit. That Paganism you seem to despise is part of our culture whether you like it or not, and our heritage along with Christianity are worth fighting for.

      Say what you want in return. It doesn’t matter, for I have nothing more to say to you.

    • John Magne Trane says

      May 9, 2015 at 8:00 am

      Those pagans…

      They had a law, where someone who called a Norwegian woman a whore, would be banned and called “varg i veum”, which means something like “hunted like a wolf”. Everyone, everywhere was allowed to kill him, until he could plead his case in the next, yearly Thing (Parliament).

      In the dream world of the multi culturalists, that would be a change of pace in a country where Norwegian women and girls are yelled at by the children of immigrants and called “Whore!”.

  8. gravenimage says

    May 8, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    Norway ends blasphemy law because of Charlie Hebdo jihad massacre
    ………………………..

    Largely symbolic or not, this is heartening. Bravo Norway!

  9. Mark Breza says

    May 8, 2015 at 11:19 pm

    AMERIKA IS ON FIRE
    RUN FOR THE EXITS
    !o!

  10. John says

    May 8, 2015 at 11:51 pm

    It’s good news as long as it has not been replaced by a more general “hate speech” type of law.

    • John Magne Trane says

      May 9, 2015 at 8:08 am

      The previous govt tried that in 2009, but lost. They wanted to add words to the “Anti Racism paragraph” which would guard religions and individual’s religious feelings against unfair and offending remarks.

      Many were offended 😉

  11. juancolina says

    May 9, 2015 at 3:23 am

    I say – eat lots of bacon sandwiches in public.
    Or even adopt a pig as a friend for your pet dog.

  12. duh_swami says

    May 9, 2015 at 5:59 am

    No convictions since 1912, is not important…If the law is ‘on the books’, it is active and can be used by authority at any time…Removing it removes that possibility…A step in the right direction…

  13. Oppressaphobe says

    May 9, 2015 at 7:19 am

    Jesus Christ!

  14. Chuck Grey says

    May 9, 2015 at 8:05 am

    Youth culture in Norway has totally turned against Muslim immigrants. Last year the Norwegian black metal band Taake released an album, Noregs Vaapen (Norways’s Weapon) with anti-Muslim immigrant, nativist lyrics – and it’s been selling very well.

  15. knightsstrength says

    May 9, 2015 at 9:50 am

    Most important issue is freedom of speech is retained.

    The main issue is Christianity stands proven, where Islam is based on lies and hate. Not one Koran version is complete or backs up the other as so many variations.

    Islam can attack the Bible, but they always fall down because of the lies and hate. The Bible always stands true as a book of history, past present and future. Most of ancient times have been discovered through the Bible, and I ask where is the history to verify the Quran. It is empty and they love to destroy as they do today to remove history to give Islam a say.

    Muslims never like hearing the truth or take the time to know what is written in the Quran or even compare it to the Bible. All they are concerned about is continuous recite that means Quran.

    One should also learn about Muhammad’s life and see that the terrorist only emulate Muhammad.

    To me how that we got into this mess is someone couple hundred years after Muhammad saw him as one to project and write about and making up a book on his lifelife, to propel Islam as a law to rape, rob and murder.

    • particolor says

      May 9, 2015 at 10:02 am

      Though shalt be done on Earth as it is in Arabia !! 🙁 🙁

  16. Mulakush says

    May 9, 2015 at 10:25 am

    It is remarkable that the Norway MP’s who wrote the law are conservatives. Imagine ANY conservative here in the US or Canada writing and pushing an anti blasphemy law through! All these people are beholden to our own Talibans i.e. Christian fundies. Religions have scared the living daylights out of people by using imaginary concepts like gods, hell, afterlife and such and control them through this fear. And since religions have the votes, I do not foresee any politician standing up to our own religions in the near future. And Islam will continue to exploit this situation claiming islamophobia at every turn.

  17. TheCountess says

    May 9, 2015 at 10:34 am

    On the one hand, this is good news, for Norwegians. On the other, this is sad news; The late great United States of America is compared to the country of Norway to do in it’s capabilities on a grand scale, what WE should be doing on a larger one. Who is the greater country? Are we the people so out numbered, so out flanked, so out of whack that we cannot lead in this manner? It is astounding!
    Norway or any other nation’s decision to stand against Muslim terrorism doesn’t mean a hill of beans in our country, especially to our leaders and the laws passed here. Our fight is here.

  18. Parousia says

    May 9, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    Sometimes i wonder what ‘hate speech’ really is. For me there is no such thing. Speech is speech.

    You want to criminalize ‘hate speech’? Who decides what speech is hate speech and which is not?

    Let every man say what the heck they want to say. If you think it offends you, then, sue. If the said speech is not based on fact and actually damaging in reality, then, appropriate measures should be taken as decided by the judge(s).

    At least, in the worldview of the liberals, I have the right to not like; the right to hate. It baffles me when these liberal+enemedia shout ‘hate speech’ all about, yet fail to recognize Jesus as a someone worth giving a thought, even as he was the personification of love (non-hatred.)

  19. Oppressaphobe says

    May 9, 2015 at 12:55 pm

    What is Hate Speech? I don’t know-it could be that when they put the knife to you or your child’s throat and you scream, they might call that Islamophobic hate speech! Could do some time for that one.

  20. profitsbeard says

    May 9, 2015 at 7:03 pm

    Norwegian timber.

    Cheers to a sensible survival response.

    Defending our hard-won liberty of thought in the West.

    Unlike the usual EUnuchs.

    • Angemon says

      May 9, 2015 at 7:51 pm

      “EUnuchs”

      Lol, nice one! I hope you don’t mind if I borrow that term from time to time.

  21. Keith Jordan says

    May 9, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    What’s this in the headline about the U.S. instituting a blasphemy law? I haven’t heard about it, and I doubt it. Please tell me more.

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