The Malta Humanist Association expressed its support of the approval of Bill 113, which repeals blasphemy law, making it no longer illegal to vilify religion.

The MHA feels that ideas and beliefs should not be protected from criticism, as long as hate speech and inciting hatred are still not allowed. Laws against hate speech are in place to protect people, not their ideas or beliefs. 

"For the record, the approval of Bill 113 does not affect laws on hate speech and inciting hatred and the MHA feels that this is an important clarification to be made, in lieu of the misinformation being distributed on social and online media as a result of Tuesday's parliament proceedings."

The law does not specifically define vilification, meaning that this may be left to the discretion of the judiciary. 

MHA said that Malta is once again leading the way in freedom of speech, a far cry from days of old when individuals who expressed any form of opinion that went against church dogma were either criminalised or ostracised by a people who felt that their ideas should be immune from challenge. "Aren't ideas or beliefs inherently weak if the people holding them prohibit their scrutiny?"

"Just as nobody would dream of prohibiting the vilification of a political system or ideology, but would instead defend these through counter arguments, religious beliefs require and deserve no such protection. This can be seen as encouraging rational debate and constructive criticism on religious matters, just as happens on other subjects."