Brussels, 26/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Following the arrest of three actors in Athens, the European Humanist Federation (EHF) and its Greek partner organisation, Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM), are calling on the country to abolish its blasphemy laws. On 9 June 2012, three actors were arrested for acting in a play in Athens by Terrence McNally, “Corpus Christi”, which is felts to be blasphemous. The 1997 play tells the story of Jesus and his disciples as the story of homosexuals in the Texan city of Corpus Christi. Under the influence of secularisation, blasphemy is no longer a crime in most EU member states. Some countries have abolished it, whereas others, like Austria, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands, no longer arrest people under it. Blasphemy laws can still lead to fines or imprisonment in Greece, Ireland and Poland, which acts as a disincentive for reports, academics, artists and ordinary people, who are forced to censor themselves to avoid being taken to court, complain the humanists, pointing out that freedom of speech is protected under all international human rights laws and freedom of speech should include the right to criticise religion in speech or art. In a joint press release, the EHF and GHM say there is no fundamental right not to have one's religious beliefs offended and therefore churches and religious groups must accept criticism in the same way as all other parts of society. (IL/transl.fl)