The longstanding blasphemy law in Norway has finally been repealed in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack that took place in Paris earlier this year. In a symbolic gesture aimed at favouring freedom of speech and expression in the country, Norway officially repealed the legislation in the first week of May.

According to Section 142 of the Norwegian Penal Code, those found guilty of violating the country’s blasphemy law could face hefty fines or up to six months in prison. In February of this year, after the Charlie Hebdo massacre shocked the entire world,

Conservative Member of Parliament Anders B. Werp and Progress Party Member of Parliament Jan Arild Ellingsen proposed that the legislation be scrapped because it underpinned the idea that religious symbols and expressions are entitled to a special form of protection.

Both Werp and Ellingsen insisted that, “It is time to stands up for freedom of speech, even in religious matters.”

Things I didn't know: till today, blasphemy was illegal in Norway. Now you can blaspheme all you want. Didn't say which religion, of course.

— Tom Andersen (@Zebula77) May 6, 2015

The duo’s proposal to have Norway’s blasphemy law repealed was met with heavy opposition from the country’s Christian publicists, who went so far as to say the decision itself was cultural suicide.

“It is a symbol of the cultural suicide,” Norwegian publicist Finn Jarle Sæle wrote, “Today we have no value basis. Although the Constitution states that Christianity and humanism constitute the foundation of the state, its sense has been lost.”

Norway’s parliament had first voted for the blasphemy law to be repealed in 2009, despite facing strong opposition from the Christian Democratic Party. Unfortunately, the proposed change was repeatedly postponed due to the country’s bureaucratic procedures.

Surprisingly, the last time a Norwegian was charged with blasphemy was in 1933. Writer Arnulf Overland was tried for delivering a speech titled “Christianity: The Tenth Plague to the Students’ Society”. Overland was eventually acquitted of his crime. In 1912 however, journalist Arnfred Olsen was convicted for his strong criticism of Christianity that was published in a magazine called Freethinkers.

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