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Insults against religion in Italy can get you jail time: Just ask Italian comedienne
I just heard about the Italian comedienne who is facing jail time in Italy for insulting the pope. In Italy, there are laws against insulting religion. If you tell a joke that is against the pope, it can land you in hot water.
According to the story, Italian comedienne, Sabina Guzzanti, a presenter at a rally in Rome this past July, made a joke about what could happen in the after-life to popes who are against gay rights. Now she is facing five years in jail.
Italy is not the only country where people mind their Ps and Qs when talking about certain people and regulations or habits are in place to command respect.
In Thailand, for example, before each movie, there is an ode to the king before the feature film. The audience members stand throughout the king's anthem and photo montage of images depicting aspects of his life. There isn't a law that says you have to stand, but everyone does--even tourists like me.
If you don't stand for the king before a movie, you may feel a bit silly sitting in a sea of waists and legs, but that's about the worst that can happen, I imagine. If you head to Italy, it seems like when it comes to religion, follow the adage, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
[Here's an article I came across about the habit of standing up in movies to pay tribute to the king.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ed Sep 13th 2008 8:50PM
good they should do that in the usa. iis all about R E S P E C T. ASK ARETHA FRANKLIN R E S P E C T. THERE IS NO RESPECT IN THE USA.
Acidtongue2x4 Sep 13th 2008 10:17PM
There should be freedom "from" religion in that country. Mob rules I suppose.
Allen Sep 13th 2008 8:56PM
You'd have to lock up everyne in America.
Armengeddon Sep 13th 2008 9:10PM
i dont mind really, in america we can pretty much talk about anyone except the jews for some effed up reason, and if we do, we get in trouble. So naturally in italy, if you insult Christianity or anything part of it, you will be punished.
Dave Sep 13th 2008 10:43PM
that's not true. Jews for the most part don't mind jokes being told about them. However, if you are white and tell a joke about a black you are automatically hit with a race crime. Never mind that they can say anything they want about anybody and get by with it.
marty doll Sep 13th 2008 9:09PM
In response to the comedian locked up for making comments against the pope, more pwoer to you . The Pope is the figurehead of the most corrupt church on Earth. It has been that way since the Middle Ages. Makes me proud to be an Atheist. The pope will rot in Hell if that even exists.
mike Sep 13th 2008 10:31PM
You are right on the money ! Money the pope has more than any other company on the planet that is tax free This is a cult that let there priest molest little boys and turned a blind eye too what was happening. the Pope is a joke.
Daniel Sep 14th 2008 2:27AM
Marty,
May God Bless you. Because you need it. There is nothing proud about being an atheist, and there is nothing proud about the tone and nature of the language you use.
tom Sep 14th 2008 5:18AM
Spoken like a true bigot and racist, and by the way athiests don't exist, they are fairy tales.
marty doll Sep 14th 2008 11:17AM
Hey Tom I am not a racist or bigot.I do not care about color you are or nationality and atheists do exist because one just replied to you. Just wait to see what happens when you die. Relegion is a brainwashing cult that is approved by the goveernment.
dk Garvey Sep 22nd 2008 8:47AM
Mr. Doll once again evinces that sophomoric, childish pride those who trumpet their atheism seem compelled to show, when they are merely announcing their lack of a sensitive imagination or at least their utter lack of humility in summarizing in one word something so vast and variegated as the Church since the Middle Ages. My God, man, what intellectual chutzpah you must have to so summarily dismiss the entirety of 700 or so years of the Church's function and energy in the world, branding it as corrupt 'from the Middle Ages'. Why do not you just slink back into your 'fever swamps' of hate and venom and not pester the world of the reasonable and rational any more with your 'broad brush' of wantonly corrupt thought-processes. Best of all, if I have a moment, I will do you that greatest of all damnable favors and pray for your eternal soul.
Gerald Sep 13th 2008 10:36PM
dk Garvey have read the history of the catholic church? I would not take everything they tell as gospel.
Gail Sep 14th 2008 1:48AM
Ah dkGarvey, what a pompous ass you turned out to be yourself. You are the pot calling the kettle black.
Don Sep 14th 2008 3:27AM
Next time you want to stand up for a corrupt Catholic Church try reading "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" and then tell me that the Pope and all the Bishops aren't corrupt.
Corey Sep 14th 2008 3:55AM
im believe in God but even i know theres things wrong with the church and...
Tobyn Sep 13th 2008 9:29PM
There are laws against insulting religion in Italy -- does that include every religion? All Sabina Guzzanti did was tell a joke. It is frightening that people reacted the way they did -- that is not so far off from the Inquisition, where they could get you for any little thing.
Sadist1184 Sep 15th 2008 2:50AM
It's the law of the land. Quit sounding like a bunch of whiny douchebags. Both of you.
Dave Sep 13th 2008 9:44PM
Good for Italy and the Church standing up for themselves instead of just sitting back and taking in all the asinine insults everybody loves throwing at them.
Dean Sep 13th 2008 9:45PM
A stupid law but what else would you expect from a bunch of hypocrites.
rob Sep 13th 2008 10:07PM
who cares shes a female comic