Spain eyes repeal of blasphemy law amid debate over free expression

FILE PHOTO: People dance next to a poster depicting the body of Jesus Christ within a butcher's diagram, illustrating different cuts of meat, which was removed by Basque police from a temporary bar following a complaint of blasphemy by the diocese of Bilbao, but later appeared in different bars, according to local media, at the Aste Nagusia fiestas in Bilbao, Spain, August 23, 2017. REUTERS/Vincent West TEMPLATE OUT/File Photo

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Socialist-led government said it had proposed legislation to stop religious groups seeking to prosecute people for blasphemy, amid a debate about how to balance freedom of speech against religious rights.

Patxi Lopez, the Socialist party's parliamentary spokesperson, said on Friday that the bill would repeal a law that imposes fines on people who mock religious beliefs.