Where does humanity stand on this issue of blasphemy? In the 1948 United Nations Human Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), the closest thing we have to an international authority on the subject, three fundamental principals for governing human rights were laid out: rights are universal (apply to everyone); inalienable, (herald state authority and are founded on humanity); and indivisible (all rights of level importance). Blasphemy is covered under Article 19 of the Declaration. Those privy to international relations know, however, that this holds incredibly small importance to most countries. And like most human rights, blasphemy has a long history of violence and oppression. Over 35 countries currently have laws against blasphemy, with punishments ranging from up to 1 month in jail to a mandatory death penalty (really cool, Pakistan). And as pointed out by Ed Clint last night in his discussion of Blasphemy Day during our weekly meeting, the United State’s close political ties with many of these countries is more than a little unsettling.
