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| The Pirate Party has just managed to legalise blasphemy in Iceland in support of Charlie Hebdo attack | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iceland voted to legalise blasphemy yesterday after a bill was brought to parliament by the country’s Pirate Party. | Iceland voted to legalise blasphemy yesterday after a bill was brought to parliament by the country’s Pirate Party. |
| Previously under Icelandic law anyone found to be “ridiculing or insulting the dogmas or worship of a lawfully existing religious community,” could be punished with three months in prison or a fine. | Previously under Icelandic law anyone found to be “ridiculing or insulting the dogmas or worship of a lawfully existing religious community,” could be punished with three months in prison or a fine. |
| However, following the murder of 11 people in Paris after the controversial satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohamad, the Pirate Party introduced a measure to repeal the 1940 law in January. | However, following the murder of 11 people in Paris after the controversial satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohamad, the Pirate Party introduced a measure to repeal the 1940 law in January. |
| Speaking in the Althing, Iceland’s parliament, yesterday each member of the small party took the floor – as voting took place – to declare: “I am Charlie Hebdo.” | Speaking in the Althing, Iceland’s parliament, yesterday each member of the small party took the floor – as voting took place – to declare: “I am Charlie Hebdo.” |
| “The Icelandic Parliament has issued the important message that freedom will not bow to bloody attacks,” the party said in a statement released to The Iceland Monitor after the successful vote. | “The Icelandic Parliament has issued the important message that freedom will not bow to bloody attacks,” the party said in a statement released to The Iceland Monitor after the successful vote. |
| The measure was broadly supported by most political, religious and public figures – despite the ambivalent relationship much of Iceland’s establishment has with the Pirate Party. | The measure was broadly supported by most political, religious and public figures – despite the ambivalent relationship much of Iceland’s establishment has with the Pirate Party. |
| The party, led by Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, is the smallest in the 63-member Althing but has consistently polled above other, larger political organisations. | The party, led by Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, is the smallest in the 63-member Althing but has consistently polled above other, larger political organisations. |
| Their unconventional attitude is best typified by Mr Gunnarsson’s performance in a recent parliamentary session. | Their unconventional attitude is best typified by Mr Gunnarsson’s performance in a recent parliamentary session. |
| He first compared the government’s working to “the final scene of a ‘Game of Thrones’ episode — the only thing you know for sure that there’s probably something perfectly horrible about to happen,” before rapping an Icelandic rock song. The song in question concludes: “I’ve had enough of this mess; let’s take it to the next level.” | He first compared the government’s working to “the final scene of a ‘Game of Thrones’ episode — the only thing you know for sure that there’s probably something perfectly horrible about to happen,” before rapping an Icelandic rock song. The song in question concludes: “I’ve had enough of this mess; let’s take it to the next level.” |