Blasphemy as a crime in the EU

19.1.2015

Question for written answer E-000634-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Marc Tarabella (S&D)

The recent attacks on Charlie Hebdo have reopened debate on the issue of whether blasphemy should be classified as a crime.

Blasphemy is already a crime in eight EU Member States: the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Poland and Ireland. The last-named country adopted its law on blasphemy as recently as in 2010.

This issue does not fall within the EU's sphere of responsibility. Nonetheless, the upsurge in the EU of extremist religious movements which seek to justify their actions by claiming that blasphemy is a crime is a worrying development.

Does the Commission intend to take a stance on this issue, in particular by emphasising the EU's fundamental values of tolerance and secularism?