May 26, 2017
Blasphemy law stays on books
The Maori Party has joined National to vote down an amendment that would have added New Zealand's blasphemy law to the Statutes Repeal Bill.
Labour MP Chris Hipkins who tabled the amendment, says it was a sad day for freedom of speech, tolerance, and leadership.
President of the Humanist Society president Sara Passmore says it shows secular government is an illusion with politicians choosing personal beliefs over freedom and tolerance.
She says by refusing to remove the blasphemy law from the Crimes Act, the Government is saying people are not free to criticise and challenge all ideas.
Its existence on the statute books means New Zealand is on the back foot if it wants to criticise human rights abuses in countries that use their blasphemy laws to persecute citizens.
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