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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.]
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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.
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.
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.
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.
jamesnpost Sep 13th 2008 9:54PM
If you chumps elect Palin, the same could easily happen here. To watch a football game, you will say the pledge of allegiance, offer prayer for the President, and go to jail for insulting Pat Robertson. If you get caught with marijuana, you will be jailed, excommunitated, and placed on mandatory medications for life.
Ken Sep 13th 2008 10:31PM
Hey Moron!
We elect Presidents not Dictators. We've got a congress and many state legislatures that make the laws of the lands. Your fears are unwarrented, on the other hand it's been the far left in this country who has been stifiling free speech. The Christians should be the one's to have to worry about exercising their rights
with idiots like you around spewing these kind of fears.
Bob Sep 13th 2008 11:07PM
How did Gov. Palin get into this post? How does the government excommunicate anyone? You seriously need to get serious, seriously!
Just me Sep 13th 2008 11:26PM
Not such a bad idea, james! Then maybe, just maybe, this screwed up country will FINALLY get some morals back into it and the corruption will receed!!
RICHARD Sep 13th 2008 10:06PM
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM AN AREA OF THE GLOBE WHERE 100 YEARS OR LESS THEY BELIEVED IN THE DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS.
april Sep 13th 2008 10:07PM
i do not think it is right to talk against the pope he is "our" religious leader...yes there are aspects of the church that are questionable but you must always show respect to those older than you.
and MartyDoll i do not think that YOU have right to talk against the catholic church. YOU don't even have a religion. so don't put your comments in where you have no idea what you are talking about....and 'hear say' doesn't count in your defense.
rob Sep 13th 2008 10:07PM
who cares shes a female comic
Acidtongue2x4 Sep 13th 2008 10:17PM
There should be freedom "from" religion in that country. Mob rules I suppose.