Category Archives: Freedom of Religion

Blasphemy is a crime in Canada

Posted on January 8, 2015 by

Not because we’re living under the Stephen Harper Christofascist dictatorship, though. (Sorry, Michael Harris.)  It’s actually a law that hasn’t been enforced successfully since 1935, but remains part of the Criminal Code of Canada: Section 296 of the Criminal Code … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Book review: A Cruel Arithmetic: Inside the Case Against Polygamy by Craig Jones

Posted on January 22, 2013 by

[Originally posted at Canadian Lawyer] When s. 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada was referred to the British Columbia Supreme Court, I wrote that I believed the law was clearly unconstitutional in its current form: If this case was about legal recognition … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Canadian Politics, Family Law, Freedom of Religion, Human Rights, Marriage, Polygamy | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The other “Jesus shirt” case

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

Nova Scotians who followed the “Life is Wasted Without Jesus” controversy may be interested in this markedly similar case from Ohio, where a student’s T-shirt was banned because of a controversial religious message. The difference? In the Ohio case, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Law, Constitutional Law (USA), Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Religion, Human Rights | 1 Comment

Two related stories

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

Canada: A Nova Scotia teenager who made international headlines for getting suspended from school after wearing a T-shirt with a Christian message didn’t attend classes on Monday and may be leaving the school for good. William Swinimer, a Grade 12 … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Religion, Nova Scotia | 1 Comment

“Life is Wasted Without Jesus”

Posted on May 4, 2012 by

If you’re a Christian, you probably think that statement is just common sense.  If you aren’t a Christian, you probably rolled your eyes and moved on.  And if you’re an administrator at Forest Heights Community School in Chester Basin, you think … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Law, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Religion, Nova Scotia | 3 Comments

Blasphemy in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 5, 2012 by

The always excellent Cathy Young on the “Zombie Mohammed” case in Pennsylvania: It all started with a Halloween parade in which Ernest Perce V, head of the state chapter of American Atheists, marched as “Zombie Mohammed” with turban, fake beard, and chants of … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Law (USA), Criminal Law, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Religion | Leave a comment

“Until somehow his soul is taken from him.”

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, a Christian pastor faces execution for “apostasy”: Fears are growing for the fate of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani after some reports claimed he could be executed by as early as today. White House spokesman Jay … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Freedom of Religion, Iran | Leave a comment