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Other provisions

Blasphemy

In the penal code of 1734 blasphemy was punishable by death, but was no longer carried out after 1823. The penal code of 1890 set the maximum sentence for blasphemy at four years in prison and in 1970 it was lowered to two years. During the 1960s there were a few controversial trials where the whole concept of blasphemy was put to question. Blasphemy as such disappeared from law texts in 1999 when a new law concerning “breaking the freedom of worship” was put into force. There punishable act is to “publicly ridicule God or with an intent to abuse or desecrate that, which […] Church or other religious community holds to be sacred”. Maximum sentence is six months or (most often) fines.

D 3 July 2017    ATommi Heino

CNRS Unistra Dres Gsrl

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