Iran Mulls Death for Bloggers as Massachusetts Blasphemy is Not Enforced

If you don’t want to be killed by the death penalty for owning a website or blog that promotes corruption or prostitution, don’t move to Iran.

The Iranian parliament is considering legislation that would apply capital punishment for online criminals, not just rapists, armed robbers, and people who go religion shopping and desert Islam. [Via A Stitch in Haste and Khaleej Times Online]

As of yesterday, UAE journalism students indicated 19 members of the Majlis have shown support for the bill but 129 votes are needed for passage.

Closer to home, did you know religious blasphemy is illegal not just in Iran but also under Massachusetts General Law?

Chapter 272, Section 36:

Whoever willfully blasphemes the holy name of God by denying, cursing or contumeliously reproaching God, his creation, government or final judging of the world, or by cursing or contumeliously reproaching Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost, or by cursing or contumeliously reproaching or exposing to contempt and ridicule, the holy word of God contained in the holy scriptures shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars, and may also be bound to good behavior.

I looked up the word contumeliously.

I’m not surprised. Two years ago, the Boston Phoenix researched several current state laws that are rarely, if ever, enforced.

If you’re still following along, the last time the law was invoked was 1833.

Abner Kneeland was convicted on five counts of blasphemy, branded an atheist, and subsequently jailed for saying: “I believe that in the abstract, all is God.”

God bless the separation of church and state.

Wait, I said “God bless.” Will I be jailed?

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Tagged as: globalization, law

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