UK formally abolishes common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel

Following lengthy debates in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons, the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel were formally abolished yesterday. Their abolition was long overdue and hopefully will set some kind of example to other countries were these laws are still abused.

This does not create a free-for-all to whip up hatred against religion: as of last year, this is illegal - under the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006). But it does mean that open "discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system" is no longer formally prohibited. Which is a good thing.