Blasphemy

1. What is blasphemy?
2. Blasphemy in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism

3. Blasphemy in Europe
4. Blasphemy in Malaysia
5. Conclusion
 According to Merriam Webster Dictionary (2018), it is “the act of insulting or
showing contempt or lack of reverence for God” or “the act of claiming the
attributes of a deity” or “irreverence toward something sacred or inviolable”.
 The legal definitions of blasphemy depend in the existence of certain
elements. Examples:
 Article 1 of Indonesian Presidential Decree No. 1/PNPS/1965: “Every
individual is prohibited in public from intentionally conveying, endorsing or
attempting to gain public support in the interpretation of a certain religion
embraced by the people of Indonesia or undertaking religious based
activities that resemble the religious activities of the religion in question,
where such interpretation and activities are in deviation of the basic
teachings of the religion”.
 Section 298 of Pakistan Penal Code: “Uttering of any word or making any
sound or making any gesture or placing of any object in the sight with the
deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person”.
 In essence, Islam teaches its followers to respect their own religion and tolerate
other religions.
 Blasphemy in Islam can be counted by any action against Allah Taala, Prophet
Muhammad (BPUH) or principles of Shari’ah or anything considered sacred in
Islam.
 Under the Islamic criminal law, it is categorised under Ta’zir punishment.
 The Quran notifies certain existence of blasphemy, but there is no specific
punishment stipulated in Quran.
 Thus, the punishments are varied according to Islam schools of legal thought and
jurisdictions of Muslim countries.
I. Blasphemy against holy personages
II. Blasphemy against beliefs and customs
III. Blasphemy against arfiacts – Quran or mosque

 Hanafi – repentence, if not, dead
 Maliki – death for Muslim man is mandatory
 Hanbali – death is mandatory for man and woman
 Shafi´i – repetence accepted, if not, death
 Ja´fari - death for Muslim

 Bible speaks and is concerned with blasphemy
 Strictly forbidden in The Commandments
 The Old Testament provides harsh punishment:
 Leviticus 24:16 “Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to

be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether
foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to
be put to death.”
 Blaspheming God
 Blaspheming Christ
 Blaspheming the Holy Spirit
 Blaspheming the Word
 Blaspheming the Church

 Hanging. The last hanged for blasphemy in GB, Thomas Aikenhead in Scotland
1697.
 Stoning to death.
 The followers – responsible to make sure their behaviour does not incite others to
blaspheme God or anything related to religion.
 Islam – Yes, through sincere repentance and abstain from repeating it
ever.
 Christianity & Judaism – Yes
 “Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the
blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven” (Matthew
12:31).
 Any sin for which one seeks forgiveness through God’s prescribed
plan can be forgiven. As provided in “If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
• Blasphemy is present in the articles 10 and 11 of the Declaration of the Rights of
Man and of the Citizen, of 1789.
• In the EU laws, no prohibition of the punishment of blasphemy.
• There are still countries with a blasphemy law, rule or policy at some level of the
government.
• This leads to a debate on freedom of speech and religion.

• Can offense the believers
• Religions are sacred  cannot laugh about it
• Exacerbate the tensions inside the population « put oil on the fire »
• Blasphemy is the fundamental part of the freedom of expression, thinking
• It is allowed to criticize a dogma
• Every representative of a monotheism is blasphemous for another religion.
• Fight the fear of fundamentalism
• Nobody force the believers to read this expression of blasphemy « it is the right to
believe or not » « unlike fundamentalism, blasphemy doesn’t kill ».
 Malaysia curbs blasphemy and any insult to religion or to the religious by rigorous
control of what people in that country can say or do.
 Government-funded schools teach young Muslims the principles of Islam, and
instruct young non-Muslims on morals.
 The government informs the citizens on proper behavior and attitudes, and ensures
that Muslim civil servants take courses about Islam. The government ensures that
the broadcasting and publishing media do not create disharmony or disobedience.
 If someone blasphemes or otherwise engages in deviant behavior, Malaysia
punishes such transgression through Shari’ah court or through legislation such as
the Penal Code.
 Sections 295-298A of the Malaysian Penal Code provide penalties for those who
commit offenses against religion.
 While practising one’s freedom of speech, it is essential to respect each other’s
faith and religion.
 This is necessary to ensure peace and harmony in a democratic country.
 Blasphemy is taken as a crime in majority countries of the world, without

specification to any religion.

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1. What is blasphemy?

2. Blasphemy in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism

II. Blasphemy against beliefs and customs

III. Blasphemy against arfiacts – Quran or mosque

 Maliki – death for Muslim man is mandatory

 Hanbali – death is mandatory for man and woman

 Shafi´i – repetence accepted, if not, death

 Ja´fari - death for Muslim

 Leviticus 24:16 “Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to

 Blaspheming the Holy Spirit

 Blaspheming the Word

 Blaspheming the Church

• In the EU laws, no prohibition of the punishment of blasphemy.

• This leads to a debate on freedom of speech and religion.

 This is necessary to ensure peace and harmony in a democratic country.

 Blasphemy is taken as a crime in majority countries of the world, without

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