Australian euthanasia activist Dr Philip Nitschke has been banned from four Irish venues during a European tour of his controversial right-to-die workshops.
The director of Melbourne-based assisted suicide group Exit International had earlier been detained in France on his way to Britain during the tour.
While Dr Nitschke has faced
problems booking venues before, he says the level of opposition he's faced in Ireland is extraordinary.
"We have occasionally had venues withdrawn from us because those leasing the premises disagreed with our ideas, (but) we have never had four separate venues refuse to host a meeting," he said in a statement.
He said the cancelled bookings were due to church pressure rallied in a "well-orchestrated campaign of censorship" as he sought to educate Irish people on voluntary euthanasia.
Dr Nitschke's Irish visit comes as the country is set to hold a referendum on its controversial blasphemy law - which his group announced last week would "present a challenge" during his tour.
In Ireland, it is illegal to abuse or insult any matters considered sacred by any religion in a way that would intentionally cause outrage by the majority of those following the faith.
The law has been criticised as an attack on free speech and is set for referendum before the end of the year.
"I fully respect the Churchs' right to hold their opinions but I take issue with those who try to ram their opinions down the throats of non-believers and people who elect to reconcile their faith with their right to know about safe suicide," Dr Nitschke said.
The activist typically holds workshops in two parts: a public discussion on the pro-euthanasia movement and a private meeting to discuss methods of suicide for those over 55.
Comment was being sought by officials representing the venues who have pulled out of hosting the euthanasia talks.
The workshop has since been rescheduled for tonight at Seomra Spraoi in Dublin, billed as an "autonomous social centre" on its website.
- AAP
