Marine
02-24-2006, 5:56pm
Vienna. A court in Vienna has sentenced British historian David Irving to three years imprisonment for violating Austrian laws which make it illegal to deny the Holocaust. Despite pleading guilty, the 67-year old Irving appeared surprised by the sentence, calling it "shocking”. His lawyer says they’ll appeal.
In his defence, Irving tried to put Austrian (and German) laws banning Nazi activities and Holocaust denial on trial, saying it should be left up to historians and not governments to define historical records. State prosecutors countered this argument saying that Irving has cynically misused and abused his right to free expression in order to dismiss some of the worst crimes and atrocities of the 20th century.
Irving was arrested last November in Styria on a warrant dating back to 1989 when he addressed a right-wing fraternity in Vienna. During that speech he stated that Hitler was unaware of the extent to which violence was being used against European Jews during the Second World War.
Some of Irving’s critics, however, say they fear his jail term could transform him into a martyr for neo-Nazis.
http://www.wienerzeitung.at/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4082&Alias=wzo&cob=220367
Now, don't get me wrong. I hate Nazis and neo-Nazis probably more than any single group or belief system in this world. It makes me smile when I read of them being violently beaten in news stories.
However, to get to the point...the state shouldn't intervene in free speech like this in such a manner; no matter how tasteless, vile, and hateful or inconsiderate it may be. I'd rather see this guy get the crap kicked out of him by some angry citizens, than oppressed by the government. Any government.
In his defence, Irving tried to put Austrian (and German) laws banning Nazi activities and Holocaust denial on trial, saying it should be left up to historians and not governments to define historical records. State prosecutors countered this argument saying that Irving has cynically misused and abused his right to free expression in order to dismiss some of the worst crimes and atrocities of the 20th century.
Irving was arrested last November in Styria on a warrant dating back to 1989 when he addressed a right-wing fraternity in Vienna. During that speech he stated that Hitler was unaware of the extent to which violence was being used against European Jews during the Second World War.
Some of Irving’s critics, however, say they fear his jail term could transform him into a martyr for neo-Nazis.
http://www.wienerzeitung.at/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4082&Alias=wzo&cob=220367
Now, don't get me wrong. I hate Nazis and neo-Nazis probably more than any single group or belief system in this world. It makes me smile when I read of them being violently beaten in news stories.
However, to get to the point...the state shouldn't intervene in free speech like this in such a manner; no matter how tasteless, vile, and hateful or inconsiderate it may be. I'd rather see this guy get the crap kicked out of him by some angry citizens, than oppressed by the government. Any government.