Norway repeals blasphemy law, in response to Charlie Hebdo murders

The Local [Norway] reports:

Norway has scrapped its longstanding blasphemy law, meaning it is now legal to mock the beliefs of others, in a direct response to January's brutal attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The proposal to rush through the change [originally voted on in 2009, but delayed for technical reasons since then,] was made in February by Conservative MP Anders B. Werp and Progress Party MP Jan Arild Ellingsen, who argued that the law "underpins a perception that religious expressions and symbols are entitled to a special protection".

"This is very unfortunate signal to send, and it is time that society clearly stands up for freedom of speech," the two wrote in their proposal.

Finn Jarle Sæle, editor of a Christian magazine, condemned the change as "cultural suicide," and the initial 2009 move to repeal the law was opposed by the Christian Democrat party. The last prosecution under the law was apparently in 1933, and the last conviction in 1912.

Thanks to Prof. Howard Friedman (Religion Clause) for the pointer.