It's illegal in some countries to question the WW2 Holocaust, are there any other instances where it's illegal to question the recognised version of historical events?
2006-09-04 14:53:26 · 13 answers · asked by Robiko 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Jeremy A is thinking of the Armenians. In Turkey a writer was arrested recently for saying the Turks did slaughter Armenians in WW1. Most outsiders accept that this happened but Turkey does not. There are probably examples in lots of dictatorships - saying Kim Il Sung was responsible for starting the Korean war and couldn't have won without Chinese help would no doubt get one thrown into a gulag in North Korea. And China refuses to hear any discussion about the disasters of the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, or the Tienanmen Square massacre.
2006-09-04 21:02:35 · answer #1 · answered by Dunrobin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Japan also has its official version of history. While it's not illegal to discuss certain historical events, school textbooks are codified by the Ministry of Education, and some facts are not as presented in the rest of the world. For example, the 1930s invasion of China is termed an 'advance', while the facts of the Nanjing Massacre are officially termed to be 'under dispute'.
2006-09-05 02:26:41 · answer #2 · answered by queenofbob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As noted above, censorship is present in many countries. There may be restrictions on interpretiing history in dictatorships.
The reason Holocaust denial is illegal in Germany and Austria is that it has real political implications. Neo-Nazi parties in Europe are denying the holocaust in an attempt to justify their political agenda; considering what happened the first time such people took over Germany, steps to keep them out of power probably are n't unreasonable.
As to threats against the president (per Jeremy): You can print them, but men in bad suits with bad haircuts will visit you and ask you lots and lots of very unfriendly questions.
2006-09-04 15:52:07 · answer #3 · answered by parrotjohn2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
China has an official history, so does Cuba. In France all history texts in schools have to be Education ministry approved - but, phew, it's a democracy!! Does that make a difference.
In Austria Irvine the BNP member and military historian was convicted of Holocaust denial - good thing too.
2006-09-04 23:15:03 · answer #4 · answered by andigee2006 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in iran its illegal to print anything that doesnt deny the holocaust
most muslim countries are really dictatorships of one sort or another and you cant say anything that the gov doesnt like... they control this by owning/controlling all the press, thats cool with most muslims though cause they dont want democracy or freedom, they just want to kill the rest if the world.
also in most of europe and in canada you cant print anything that denies the holocaust
in turkey you cant say or print anything that says that the ottoman turks killed the... kurds maybe, umm i forgot but they called it a civil war when really they butchered 100,000 women and children
"Press freedom groups have raised concerns over the use of criminal defamation laws to punish those who criticise authorities. According to the writers' advocacy group International PEN, roughly 60 writers, publishers and journalists have been brought before the courts in Turkey in the past year, many charged under Article 301. The Article states that "A person who publicly insults being a Turk, the Republic or Turkish Grand National Assembly, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of six months to three years.""
in china your can print ANYTHING that the gov doesnt like, everything is censored by gov agents before it is released
in the usa you cant print threats against the president
2006-09-04 15:11:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It copuld be argued the exclusion of Black History in favour of an imperialistic and colonnial view of events, as predimonant in the Western world is an example, including the lack of acknowledgment of the Black Holocaust.
2006-09-06 21:45:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, in germany and austria it is illegal to question the the holocaust. at present a british "historian" is in prison in austria for denying the holocaust, his name is David Irving and although he tried to back track in court, his writings were the evidence that condemned him. he claims that only a few hundred thousand jews died during the holocaust and was adopted by far right neo-nazi groups as an authoratative historical voice for it's distasteful views. what a ****! currently serving 3 years in an austrian prison, result!!!!!!!!!!
2006-09-05 09:36:30 · answer #7 · answered by mojaroar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only stupid, brutal or ideologically blinkered governments make awkward versions of history illegal. the very act of making it illegal often validates it in the eyes of a lot of people. making holocaust denial illegal lets the cretins who believe it never happened fester underground, giving them the status of martyrs
to their fellow travelers and to the dummies who will believe any conspiracy theory. get them out in the open and humiliate them, their arguments never stand up to the truth, to the evidence and testimonies of the people who witnessed the holocaust and those who perpetrated it. anyway, really smart governments never make opposing views illegal they allow the media and special interest groups ridicule and deny them.
2006-09-05 02:45:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you will be sent to prison. History is only for the Government to adjust accordingly. To suit its policy of the day.
2006-09-04 14:56:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In certain Muslim countries, one cannot question the Quran's divine inspiration.
2006-09-04 14:55:13 · answer #10 · answered by Pseudo Obscure 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋