In recent years, prompted by a campaign from Northern Ireland Humanists, the political parties of Northern Ireland have increasingly recognised that it is time to get rid of Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws.
PARTIES THAT SUPPORT REPEAL
Sinn Fein
Sinn Fein fully supports repeal of the blasphemy laws. It confirmed in a statement to Northern Ireland Humanists:
‘Sinn Féin supported removing blasphemy from the constitution and we actively campaigned for its removal throughout the 2018 referendum in the south. As a 32 county organisation the position we took on the referendum in the south is reflective of our party’s position in the north. The laws are outdated and not representative of the Ireland we live in today.
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
The SDLP fully supports repeal of the blasphemy laws. It confirmed in a statement to Northern Ireland Humanists:
‘The SDLP agrees with your view that maintaining these laws here, even if they aren’t routinely used as the basis of prosecutions, provides tacit support to other nations which use similar laws to violently oppress minorities. How can we oppose those regimes which imprison, torture and murder individuals on the basis of faith if we aren’t prepared to look at our own laws? The SDLP has previously supported attempts to amend our libel laws to remove offences related to blasphemy.’
Alliance Party
The Alliance Party fully supports repeal of the blasphemy laws. Its leader Naomi Long stated:
‘I support the repeal of Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws. As a liberal, I believe in the right to both freedom of speech and freedom of religion and belief, and believe blasphemy laws are contrary to both.
‘During my time in Westminster, I was vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion and Belief and, in my campaigning work, saw first hand how blasphemy laws are used in many countries to suppress, often brutally, both minority religious views, including those of other faiths and none, and also justified criticism or challenge of a state religion.’
The Green Party
The Green Party fully supports repeal of the blasphemy laws. It confirmed in a statement to Northern Ireland Humanists:
‘The Green Party Northern Ireland is fully supportive of abolishing existing blasphemy laws.’
People Before Profit
People Before Profit’s MLA Gerry Carroll has stated:
‘I can confirm that People Before Profit do indeed support the call for ending the blasphemy laws. They are a relic of the past and need to be rescinded.’
Independent MLA support
Independent unionist member Claire Sugden has publicly stated that she supports repeal.
PARTY WITH NO POLICY BUT WHOSE MLAS GENERALLY SUPPORT REPEAL
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
The UUP does not have official party policy on the blasphemy laws but most UUP MLAs have expressed individual support for repeal, and previous party leader Mike Nesbitt has told a constituent, ‘I agree with you so will ask the party leadership to consider supporting change.’