I am an american, and I heard recently that it is illegal to deny the holocaust in Europe. Is this true? Is it enforced?
why is it illegal to question something?
what are people's thoughts concerning this? do they think it is fair?
2007-01-16 14:43:31 · 19 answers · asked by fajlkjn j 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I think it's a GREAT idea! The UK is smarter than us in more ways than one it seems! If only we Americans had this much sense!
The Holocaust happened. There's no point denying it.
There's a movie you need to rent called "Schindler's List". You also need to watch the History Channel (a lot).
2007-01-16 14:50:57 · answer #1 · answered by The Notorious Doctor Zoom Zoom 6 · 6⤊ 3⤋
It's not illegal to deny the holocaust in the UK. It is in Germany, Austria and some of the other countries where the Nazis once rounded up Jews, gays, Gypsies, people with disabilities and others and murdered them by the millions.
The reason it's illegal there is because the authorities know that denying it is a way that extremist groups can rally support and rise again. The purpose of the denial isn't so much to refute the historical accuracy of the holocaust, so much as to encourage people to deny it as a way of dismissing its significance and erasing the lessons learned as a result of it.
While such a law would be at odds with American ideals of free speech, I suspect it may make sense in a place like Germany where there is a centuries long strain of cultural anti-Semitism and where denial of atrocities is a proven way of freeing people from feeling responsible for terrible things done in their names.
Hatred almost always starts with small steps and, if left unchecked, can gradually be increased to the point where the objects of that hatred can be stripped of their humanity. Being forced to acknowledge the horror of the holocaust can make it difficult for extremists to sell hatred to ordinary people because the consequences of that hatred are plain to see in pictures of the victims of the holocaust.
2007-01-16 15:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by Rob B 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Denying the holocaust is not illegal in the UK, but it is an act of ignorance. People who deny it should go and see the evidence instead of talking through their low IQs
2007-01-16 15:19:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Because its a fact that the Holocaust did happen, theres no way denying it. People who basically try and say the Holocaus never happened are nazis. It should be illegal because its an offence to all the Jews who died and all the ones who didn't and now have the legacy of it hanging over their heads. The Holocaust is still a very sensetive subject to a lot of people.
2007-01-16 14:53:36 · answer #4 · answered by jane 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Germany is hyper-mushy with regards to the Holocaust and does not decide to furnish any room to neo-nazis or different anti-semetic communities to deliver lower back what Hitler created. there's a distinction between the Holocausr and what we observed in Bosnia and Rwanda, and what is going on in Darfur now. Hitler's "very final answer" replace into the stable coverage of the government of Germany. The slaughter of Jews replace into performed by brokers of the state in centers outfitted and paid for by the state. it isn't the case in the different international places we've pronounced. no person is had to transform to Judaism and connect the JDL. they're purely not allowed to stir the pot of hatred of Jews by denying the fact of the Holocaust. The Holocaust is the terrific documented atrocity interior the historic previous of the international.
2016-10-07 06:46:02 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you, it is people opinions. Why is it illegal to deny the Holocaust? I believe it happened, but to say it didn't it is a crime or violation to question anything. The Government is getting out of control, they want to control people minds or thoughts. Or because it happened to Jewish People?
2007-01-20 10:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by art_raiders 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No..not in the UK.. but I've never heard anyone deny the Holocaust - except one for very right wing 'historian' David Irving.
Irving was arrested for his views in Austria & imprisoned for 400 days but is now free. I don't agree with his ideas but I am dubious that anyone should be arrested for this - what about free speech?
PS J. D. or IRA Nationalist or whatever your name is now (above)...
Don't make stupid comments about the IRA...they are responsible for the MURDER of many in the UK & Ireland...did YOUR 'Irish American?' parents fund the bloodshed?
2007-01-16 15:03:43 · answer #7 · answered by Mr Crusty 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Personally.If someone wants to deny or question events in history that is up to them.You cannot prosecute someone for their views on the past.
There is incredible amounts of evidence confirming The Holocaust, It cannot be "Jewish propaganda".
We have thousands of "witnesses".
No-one can convince me that The Holocaust never happened.
2007-01-16 19:25:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think if pearl harbour didn't happen, the americans would have realise that war does affect you. If you had cam into the war a bit earlier there would never have been a holocaust, so you live with that.
2007-01-19 21:38:48 · answer #9 · answered by tboyd322001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not illegal in the UK.
It is illegal in Austria, Belgium, Czech, France, Germany
Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland
And Israel
You may find this link useful
2007-01-16 14:49:17 · answer #10 · answered by toietmoi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋