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In its latest push for secularism, Ireland will vote on overturning its blasphemy ban

In 1702, Thomas Emlyn, a Unitarian minister living in Dublin, published a book questioning whether Jesus Christ was equal to God. The radical treatise, titled “An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Christ,” caused much outrage, and the next year Emlyn was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to a year in prison. Emlyn remains the last known person convicted of blasphemy in Ireland. But 315 years later, blasphemy is still prohibited under Irish law.

On Friday, Ireland votes on whether that should change, in the latest effort to move away from its strongly conservative Catholic background to a more secular social agenda.

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Ireland is one of 71 countries where blasphemy is illegal, according to a June 2017 report by the Commission on International Religious Freedom. But in terms of enforcing the law, many countries are much worse. In Iran and Pakistan, the act is punishable by death. In others, those convicted of blasphemy have served time in prison or received corporal punishment.

Critics of the referendum say it is unnecessary and have raised concerns it will remove protection for the country’s minority populations.

Ali Selim of the Islamic Cultural Center of Ireland told the BBC that keeping blasphemy in the constitution protects “the cohesiveness” of communities in Ireland and guarantees their rights and freedoms.

The referendum looks on track to pass, just barely. Fifty-one percent of voters said they would vote yes, while 19 percent of voters said they would vote no, according to an Irish Times Poll. Another 25 percent were undecided.