Dutch Cabinet Will Not Move To Repeal Blasphemy Law

The National Secular Society reported Friday that the Dutch cabinet has decided not to move ahead with its earlier plans to repeal the country's blasphemy law. (See prior posting.) The cabinet now believes that other laws are inadequate after the Netherlands Supreme Court in March overturned the conviction of a man charged with hanging a poster in his window reading: "Stop the tumour that is Islam." The court said criticism of behavior or opinions is not outlawed by the section of the criminal code that bars insulting a group of people because of their religion. (See prior posting.)