NEWS

Lords approves abolition of blasphemy
The House of Lords last night approved amendments to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill that would abolish the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel in England and Wales. The last successful prosecution under the law happened in 1977, when Gay News editor Denis Lemon was fined £500 and given a two-month suspended sentence for […]
06 Mar 08

The House of Lords last night approved amendments to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill that would abolish the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel in England and Wales.

The last successful prosecution under the law happened in 1977, when Gay News editor Denis Lemon was fined £500 and given a two-month suspended sentence for the publication of a poem describing a Roman soldier having sex with Jesus Christ.

Stephen Green of Christian Voice failed in his attempt to bring a private blasphemy prosecution against the BBC last year, after it screened Jerry Springer the Opera, which Green claimed offended Jesus.

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But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.

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At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.

But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.

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At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.

But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.

If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.

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At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.

But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.

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