Occhidiangela,Dec 14 2005, 04:59 PM Wrote:Frag, I suspect I do not correctly understand the laws you refer to. Can you explain them to me, in the interest of providing me a better clue?Hi,
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In Germany (but also in Ãsterreich and a few other countries), denying the Holocaust is illegal and actionable.
German Wikipedia on it
It is illegal, beause it
- is propaganda for unconstitutional organisations
- is considered sedition
- is decrial of the keepsake of our departed
- is considered defamation
In § 130 paragraph 3 StGB it says:
"Mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu fünf Jahren oder mit Geldstrafe wird bestraft, wer eine unter der Herrschaft des Nationalsozialismus begangene Handlung der in § 6 Abs. 1 des Völkerstrafgesetzbuches [=Völkermord] bezeichneten Art in einer Weise, die geeignet ist, den öffentlichen Frieden zu stören, öffentlich oder in einer Versammlung billigt, leugnet oder verharmlost."
quick translation:
"Anyone who endorses, denies or plays down an action commited during the reign of 'Nationalsozialismus' which is defined in § 6 par. 1 of the Völkerstrafgesetzbuch [=genocide], openly or in an assemblage, in a way that may disturb the public peace, will be prosecuted with up to five years of prison sentence or will be imposed a fine upon."
Nationalsozialismus = the name that Hitler's regime gave itself
Völkerstrafgesetzbuch = code of law that deals with public international law
Such an assertion does according to German judges not fall under freedom of expression when it states something which is evidentally (that means via witnesses, proofs, pieces of evidence, documentation etc.) untrue.
Germany included this into the codes of law, because we wanted to pull a final stroke under the chapter of WWII, and wanted to show our consternation about our actions during this period. We are never going to let something like this happen again. Because Germans want to avoid being thought of as 'nazis' nowadays (often noticable when used as a swear-word) at all costs, we are determined to make nazi's life a misery. We want to make clear to all nazis and to the world, that we have changed, and that we don't (and never will) forget what we did in the first half of the 20th century.
Greetings, Fragbait
Oh - one more thing. If you are reading this and your nickname is Frag, and you're relatively new to the Lounge - you weren't spoken to. Just in case. :)
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