Does the national flag have official status? yes
Does the coat of arms or emblem have official status? yes
Is the use of the flag regulated by law? yes
Is it a crime to desecrate the flag? The flag of the Ecclesiastical State represents Christianity and the Catholic Church. So any desecration is unacceptable and illegal.
Which of the following are prohibited forms of desecration?
[x] Physical defacement (burning, ripping, dragging on ground)
[x] Spoken or written insults
[x] Changing the design, colours or proportion
[] Displaying the flag without government permission
[x] Displaying the national emblem without government permission
[x] Wearing the flag on a piece of clothing
[x] Wearing the flag provocatively
[] Using the flag for commercial purposes
[x] Using the flag on a disposable product
What is the penalty for desecrating the national symbols? A fine or caning if the desecration is verbal and done in the face of a police or church official. 1 to 5 years in prison if the desecration is physical.
Do these laws also protect local or regional symbols? Yes, but prison sentences cannot be given if the desecrated symbol is a lesser one and not national.
Do these laws also protect flags and emblems of foreign states? no
Do these laws also protect flags and emblems of organisations? (schools, sporting clubs, political parties, companies) no
II. National anthem
Does the national anthem have official status? yes
Is the performance of the national anthem regulated by law? yes
Is it a crime to disrespect the national anthem? yes
Which of the following are prohibited forms of disrespect to the national anthem?
[x] Disrupting a performance of the anthem by making noise (booing, shouting, whistling)
[x] Refusing to stand at attention
[x] Refusing to remove headwear (men only)
[] Refusing to sing along
[x] Changing the lyrics, melody or musical style
[x] Creating offensive parodies
[x] Spoken or written insults
[x] Using the anthem in advertising
[x] Performing the national anthem without government permission
What is the penalty for disrespecting the national anthem? A fine or caning for not standing. 1 to 5 years in prison for attacking or offending the anthem.
Do these laws also protect national anthems of foreign states? no
Do these laws also protect anthems of organisations? (schools, sporting clubs, political parties, companies) no
III. Government institutions
Is the head of state revered as sacred? The Ecclesiastical State has 2 heads of state: the Pope who is the religious leader, and the President who is the civil leader. Neither are worshipped, but they must be treated with the highest respect because they are the representatives of God.
Is the use of the head of state's image regulated by law? Only the images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are restricted. But it is illegal to change the portraits of the Pope or President to disrespect them.
Is it a crime to insult the head of state? yes
Which of the following are prohibited forms of insult?
[x] Physical defacement of a portrait or effigy
[x] Spoken or written insults
[x] Creating offensive or shocking caricatures
[] Refusing to give praise
[] Criticising policies or actions
What is the penalty for insulting the head of state? The Pope: 1 to 5 years in prison. The President: a fine or caning.
Do these laws also protect officials other than the head of state? Yes, it is also illegal to insult police or Church officials.
Do these laws also protect family members and pets of the head of state? no
Do these laws also protect former or deceased heads of state? All deceased Popes are protected from insult by law.
Do these laws also protect representatives of foreign states?
- Code: Select all
[b][u]I. Flags and emblems[/u][/b]
[b]Does the national flag have official status?[/b]
[b]Does the coat of arms or emblem have official status?[/b]
[b]Is the use of the flag regulated by law?[/b]
[b]Is it a crime to desecrate the flag?[/b]
[b]Which of the following are prohibited forms of desecration?[/b]
[] Physical defacement (burning, ripping, dragging on ground)
[] Spoken or written insults
[] Changing the design, colours or proportion
[] Displaying the flag without government permission
[] Displaying the national emblem without government permission
[] Wearing the flag on a piece of clothing
[] Wearing the flag provocatively
[] Using the flag for commercial purposes
[] Using the flag on a disposable product
[b]What is the penalty for desecrating the national symbols?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect local or regional symbols?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect flags and emblems of foreign states?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect flags and emblems of organisations? (schools, sporting clubs, political parties, companies)[/b]
[b][u]II. National anthem[/u][/b]
[b]Does the national anthem have official status?[/b]
[b]Is the performance of the national anthem regulated by law?[/b]
[b]Is it a crime to disrespect the national anthem?[/b]
[b]Which of the following are prohibited forms of disrespect to the national anthem?[/b]
[] Disrupting a performance of the anthem by making noise (booing, shouting, whistling)
[] Refusing to stand at attention
[] Refusing to remove headwear
[] Refusing to sing along
[] Changing the lyrics, melody or musical style
[] Creating offensive parodies
[] Spoken or written insults
[] Using the anthem in advertising
[] Performing the national anthem without government permission
[b]What is the penalty for disrespecting the national anthem?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect national anthems of foreign states?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect anthems of organisations? (schools, sporting clubs, political parties, companies)[/b]
[b][u]III. Government institutions[/u][/b]
[b]Is the head of state revered as sacred?[/b]
[b]Is the use of the head of state's image regulated by law?[/b]
[b]Is it a crime to insult the head of state?[/b]
[b]Which of the following are prohibited forms of insult?[/b]
[] Physical defacement of a portrait or effigy
[] Spoken or written insults
[] Creating offensive or shocking caricatures
[] Refusing to give praise
[] Criticising policies or actions
[b]What is the penalty for insulting the head of state?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect officials other than the head of state?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect family members and pets of the head of state?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect former or deceased heads of state?[/b]
[b]Do these laws also protect representatives of foreign states?[/b]
