Blasphemy law 'may be abolished' (January 10, 2008)
The government has "every sympathy" for the case for abolishing blasphemy laws, Justice Minister Maria Eagle has said. Speaking at the end of a debate on proposals to scrap the laws, she told MPs they wanted to first consult the Church of England. Labour MPs were told to vote against Lib Dem MP Evan Harris's proposals but ministers feared a backbench revolt. Dr Harris, who called the law "ancient, discriminatory and illiberal", withdrew his Criminal Justice Bill amendment. Ms Eagle said the consultation with the Church of England would be ""short and sharp" .
Subject to those discussions, the government intended to bring forward amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to abolish the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel, she said. During the debate, Dr Harris described the laws as "ancient, discriminatory, unnecessary, illiberal and non-human rights compliant". He said the last conviction under the law was 1979. "So it's not needed any more, old-fashioned, ancient and out of time," he said.
"The Almighty does not really need the protection of these ridiculous laws and that's why large numbers of people of a religious perspective share the view that these offences need to be abolished," he said.
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