Sanal Edamaruku, now a fugitive citizen of India, speaking in Dublin, Ireland is quoted in the Cyril Irish Times as saying,“Ireland’s blasphemy law is being cited by Islamic states 'as justification' for persecuting religious dissidents.... World public opinion has to be raised to the issue of blasphemy laws.
In a previous Diary (http://www.dailykos.com/....) I related that that Diary was an update to the Diary "India Skeptic Faces Arrest 4 Busting Catholic Miracle" posted by me on Tue Apr 24, 2012 at 03:16 PM PDT in Daily Kos..
My post today is to update further, for those who may have an interest in blasphemy issues in our worlds societies, as demonstrated thru the actions, tribulations, & writings (which can be accessed at http://www.rationalistinternational.net/ ) and by talks given by him in Europe.
“Mr.Edamaruku spoke in Dublin, Ireland on November 28, 2012 where he condemned Ireland’s blasphemy laws in face of his having been charged of having committed blasphemy, in India. The charges against him having been levied by representatives of the Catholic Church in India after he had demonstrated that water dripping from the feet of a Christ statue was not a miracle but rather was water drawn to the statue by capillary action from a near by water source.
Attempt was made to arrest Mr.Edamaruku under provisions of Indian law which forced him to flee India. His arrest ,if it had been successful was to be under charges that carry a three-year sentence. Finland has granted him a residency permit from where he continues to expose ridiculous, IMO, blasphemy laws.
Mr. Edamauku said he was “surprised” by Ireland’s decision two years ago to introduce a law on blasphemy, something the Fianna Fail-led government claimed was necessary to comply with the constitution. “
It is unfortunate also,IMO, that Pakistan and other countries have been able to refer to the Irish statute at the United Nations in support their own blasphemy laws.
Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland, which invited Mr Edamaruku for a series of public meetings, criticised the coalition’s decision to refer the issue to the constitutional convention which has recently met for the first time.
“ The Irish parties (Fine Gael and Labour) say they are committed to getting rid of the law which would strike a blow to legalizing world efforts toward establishing and maintaining blasphemy law.”
“Mr. Edamaruku, a critic of various religious figures including Mother Theresa and Amma “the hugging saint” ( perhaps also a basis in India for Catholic animus?), also spoke at NUI Galway and Malone Lodge, Belfast. He then travels to London and Berlin.”