On 18/11/05, Frank Pohlmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > It does seem to be a slippery slope sort of issue to > > prosecute someone > > for voicing an opinion -- especially under criminal > > law. > > It isnt as simple as that. he doesnt just have an > opinion, he is plainly lying, which is a slightly > different matter. It is called libel. I have no idea > idea what it is being called in Austria, though.
The problem is that (by my cursory understanding) he isn't being prosecuted for lying. He is being prosecuted for espousing a (admittedly offensive) political position. One should be held responsible of ones *actions* not ones *ideas*. Prosecute him for lying or for calling other historians liars or some other *action* for which he is responsible. Don't prosecute him for his ideas or opinions or even for expressing them. Today it's denying the holocaust, tomorrow it's supporting Al Quaeda and day after tomorrow being liberal will be illegal. -- b
