Blasphemy

Blasphemy is a uniquely religious criminal offence. The Bible and the Qur’an both condemn the act of blasphemy, which means speaking or acting in a derogatory way about God — denying his existence, scoffing at the scriptures, ridiculing the name of Jesus Christ or the Prophet Muhammad and mocking religious customs and beliefs. Both holy books are clear about the gravity of the offence:

Religious Studies Review

In the Middle Ages, blasphemy in England was punishable by death because, as St Thomas Aquinas observed:

Blasphemy against the Christian Faith was a capital offence in England until 1676, when the death penalty was revoked. However, it remained a serious offence — as condemned blasphemer James Naylor found out when he was sentenced to be flogged, branded and have his tongue pierced with a red-hot poker.