Ireland's New Free Speech Law Draws International Attention Amid Riots

Booker Prize-winning author Paul Lynch's dystopian novel 'Prophet Song' gains relevance as Ireland grapples with civil unrest and controversial legislation.

• Irish author Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize for his novel 'Prophet Song', a dystopian tale of Ireland under a totalitarian regime.
• The Irish government, led by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, is introducing legislation to restrict freedom of speech, targeting what they call the 'far-Right'.
• The new law, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill, could result in jail sentences of up to two years for possession of literature 'likely to incite violence or hatred'.
• The law has drawn international attention following recent riots in Dublin, which were sparked by the stabbing of three children.
• Despite the dystopian nature of 'Prophet Song', Lynch does not believe his novel predicts the rise of the far-right in Ireland.

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