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Blasphemy in NZ

  • Introduction
  • Background
    • What is a blasphemy law
    • What’s the Harm
    • Dangers overseas
    • Legal protection
    • Compatibility with other laws
    • History of the law
    • Blasphemy Law by the Backdoor
    • Use in NZ
    • Use in the UK
  • Recommendation
  • International
    • Legal Recommendations
    • UN Special Rapporteur Reports
    • Countries that have repealed
    • Blasphemy Law in other Countries
    • Statements by World Leaders
    • USCIRF Reports
    • Other Reports

International

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Crimes Act 1961

Public Act
1961 No 43
Date of assent
1 November 1961
Commencement
see section 1(2)

Part 7

Crimes against religion, morality, and public welfare

Crime against religion

123 Blasphemous libel

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year who publishes any blasphemous libel.
  2. Whether any particular published matter is or is not a blasphemous libel is a question of fact.
  3. It is not an offence against this section to express in good faith and in decent language, or to attempt to establish by arguments used in good faith and conveyed in decent language, any opinion whatever on any religious subject.
  4. No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against this section without the leave of the Attorney-General, who before giving leave may make such inquiries as he or she thinks fit.
Compare: 1908 No 32 s 150

Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015

Public Act
2015 No 63
Date of assent
2 July 2015
Commencement
see section 2

Part 1

Approved Agency and enforcement

Subpart 1—Purpose, interpretation, the Crown, and communication principles

6 Communication principles

Principle 10

A digital communication should not denigrate an individual by reason of his or her colour, race, ethnic or national origins, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Blasphemy Worldwide

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