Paul sets off at 10am from Mizen Head on Thursday 6 May
Blasphemy man begins long protest
An atheist is to walk the length of Ireland to protest against the Republic’s new blasphemy law.
Paul Gill, a former social worker from Donegal will set off on his 625km trek on Wednesday.
He is protesting against a new clause in the Defamation Act 2009 that makes blasphemy a crime punishable by a fine of up to 25,000 euros. He said: “Theological thought crimes are draconian and dangerous, they belong in the past.”
Mr Gill told BBC News he wants to use the walk to create a platform for debate, and promote the idea of a secular constitution in Ireland.
He said: “In a historical context protest walks have been an effective way of demonstrating your beliefs, rights, concerns to the public at large in the hope of generating action.
“I believe a vigorous walk in the countryside beats any religion or superstition.”
A Buncrana man who is enraged that a blasphemy law has been introduced in Ireland says he’ll walk the length and breadth of the country in protest to it.
Paul Gill, originally from Manchester, but who has roots in Buncrana, plans on pounding the pavements from Mizen Head to Malin Head in a bid to generate awareness of the law he says ‘criminalises people’s freedom of speech’.
25-day walk for Irish blasphemy referendum
NEW: You can send Paul a message of support on 086-732-5365
Starting today, Thursday May 6th, Atheist Ireland member Paul Gill will walk the length of Ireland, from Mizen Head in Cork to Malin Head in Donegal, to highlight the need to vote Yes in the coming Irish blasphemy referendum.
On January 1st, the day Ireland’s new blasphemy law became operational, Atheist Ireland published 25 blasphemous statements on our website. We continued lobbying at home and at European Parliament level. We also supported two blasphemy-themed art exhibitions in Dublin.
In March Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said he will propose a referendum later this year, along with other referendums, to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Constitution. Paul’s walk will encourage people to campaign for, and vote yes in, this referendum.
Appropriately, Paul’s walk started on May 6th, which is International Day of Reason. And to mark the start of Paul’s walk, we now publish 25 quotes on the Irish blasphemy referendum and the right to freedom of expression.
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