Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., August 20, 2009 Av 30, 5769 | | Israel Time: 17:01 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Last update - 15:56 27/05/2009
Dutch liberal leader: Holocaust denial should not be a crime
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Tags: Israel News, Netherlands 

A proposal to decriminalize Holocaust denial in the Netherlands by the leader of the Dutch liberal party touched off controversy in the party on Wednesday and drew criticism from prominent Jewish figures and from the political establishment.

Mark Rutte, head of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), said Dutch law should only prosecute those inciting to violence, not hatred. Claiming the Holocaust did not occur "should be possible," Rutte added.

Sources close to Hans van Baalen, frontrunner for VVD in the European Elections next month, told Haaretz he opposed Rutte's proposal and was considering voicing his reservations. Van Baalen - known for his favorable attitude toward Israel - was unavailable for comment.
Advertisement
Currently, Dutch law prohibits Holocaust denial only when it is purposefully used for discriminatory ends or meant to offend. Rutte said he intends to try and change this in the framework of a bill which the liberal VVD party will present to parliament, proposing to abolish all restrictions on freedom of expression.

"Holocaust denial is almost always intended to offend and discriminate," said Henk de Haan, a notable former parliament member for the ruling CDA party. "Dutch society needs to defend against this. I'm shocked by this proposal and strongly disagree with Rutte, with whom I've worked and know to be a worthy and pleasant man."

De Haan is a member of a non-governmental committee which monitors human rights abuses, nuclear weapons procurement and Holocaust denial by Iran's leadership. "A person like [Iranian President] Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cannot be allowed to visit Holland, and we need to keep the laws on this," he said.

Rutte's bill would make it impossible to prosecute Geert Wilders, leader of the rightist Party for Freedom, who is now facing trial for comparing the Koran to Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. A party spokesperson said the party had no comment on the issue.

Ronny Naftaniel, head of the Hague-based Center for Information and Documentation Israel - Holland's largest Zionist group - said that cases like that of Wilders are different to Holocaust denial because "people can choose a religion, but they cannot choose their ethnicity or the color of their skin."

Naftaniel - who has criticized Wilders for the comparison - told Haaretz that Holocaust denial "is almost always used for a political purpose, which is discrimination. This needs to be nipped in the bud before it's too late."

He added: "Holocaust denial causes psychological pain to survivors. Rutte underestimates the intensity of the pain that this allowing this will needlessly cause them."

Related articles:
  • Dutch MP Wilders faces charges over showing of anti-Muslim film
  • 'There is no moderate Islam,' says far-right Dutch legislator Geert Wilders
  • Director of controversial film on Islam to speak in Jerusalem

    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Heil Hitler vs. Israeli
    U.S. woman in IDF shirt yells 'Heil Hitler' at Israeli expat.
    IDF organ harvest
    Swedish writer of IDF organ harvest story says 'I'm no anti-Semite'.
      1.   Dutch density 14:10  |  ky 27/05/09
      2.   Irony 16:32  |  David Olesker 27/05/09
      3.   While they`re at it 16:41  |  Naftush 27/05/09
      4.   Palestinians have the right to have their stolen land 17:50  |  Antonio da Silva 27/05/09
      5.   Holocaust Denial 18:02  |  Elianah 27/05/09
      6.   Antonio de Silva 18:14  |  judith 27/05/09
      7.   #4 Give the land back 18:16  |  ky 27/05/09
      8.   desperate leader of once valuable liberal party want votes 18:23  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 27/05/09
      9.   Strange 18:54  |  Mark 27/05/09
      10.   not so crazy... 19:03  |  itsik 27/05/09
      11.   ky - stick to the fats. Freedom to not listen 19:28  |  American in NY 27/05/09
      12.   Do not shoot at Holand but look to your closest friends 19:50  |  Robin van Staveren 27/05/09
      13.   No calls for violence, please. 20:34  |  Sean 27/05/09
      14.   to # 4 Antonio da Silva Holocaust Denial 22:09  |  Yonni from Athens 27/05/09
      15.   Right on! Enough of creeping Orwellianism in Europe 22:31  |  Ivar 27/05/09
      16.   Deny all you want. 23:28  |  Arnold 27/05/09
      17.   #11 Freedom of speech 01:20  |  ky 28/05/09
      18.   Criticize the US 01:24  |  Muskens 28/05/09
      19.   A jew who agrees 08:45  |  Ian 28/05/09
      20.   #19 Ian and fredom of speech 12:01  |  ky 28/05/09
      21.   Right on !!! 20:31  |  Gern Blansten 30/05/09
      22.   #5 Elianah - Don`t bring logic into the discussion! 09:26  |  PADDY 31/05/09
      23.   All is questionable, not all is permitted or wise. 11:21  |  Peter Buch 31/05/09
      24.   holocaust 21:28  |  Jerry Jones 04/06/09
      25.   holocaust 21:33  |  Jeff fitzhugh 04/06/09
      26.   holocaust 21:38  |  Joe Bassett 04/06/09
      27.   Pathetic statement for pathetic type of "liberals" 22:42  |  Norma Fares 06/06/09
      28.   ky 17 06:38  |  potobac 14/06/09
      29.   HOLOCAUST DENIAL 12:44  |  Roy Weston 16/06/09
      30.   24, 25 and 26 07:29  |  Edan 18/06/09
      31.   Criminalization of Holocaust denial hurts Jews 14:58  |  Conroy 20/06/09
      32.   ALL Holocaust deniers claim a Jewish conspiracy 03:27  |  Zvi 27/06/09
      33.   not a crime, but a sign of madness 12:31  |  sweis Melbourne 30/06/09
      34.   Holocaust acceptance 05:15  |  Philip Arbon 02/07/09
      35.   Erroneous arguments 05:59  |  Paul Silverman 07/07/09
      36.   Denial 06:05  |  Paul Silverman 07/07/09
      37.   THE SAME ONES WHO COMMITTED THE ACT TRY AND DENY IT. 13:45  |  petra 20/08/09
      38.   ky I agree. 13:49  |  petra 20/08/09
      39.   Holocaust Revisionism 13:58  |  Claudia 20/08/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Salt
    From the Dead Sea Coupon cofe Haaretz for 10% off!
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    Master's Program in Desert Studies
    An innovative, multidisciplinary, international program specialized in Desert Research
    Dead Sea Cosmetics .Summer Specials
    Velvet Hand Cream just $14.90
    Handmade In Tel Aviv
    Itay Noy, Timepiece Maker
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    16:39 Sweden: Not party to envoy's censure of IDF organ harvesting article
    16:48 Lawyer: Dudu Topaz 'told me he wouldn't make it'
    15:02 Dudu Topaz: The rise and fall of Israel's ratings king
    16:15 Palestinian-American behind 'socialist-joker' Obama poster
    16:14 Holocaust survivor now lives on Tel Aviv park bench
    16:55 U.S. 'deeply regrets' decision to free Lockerbie bomber
    22:41 TV ROUND-UP: Israeli crime, prepping for peace, Iran and Syria unite
    15:36 Palestinians teens visit Israel on 'Birthright Replugged'
    16:59 Israeli man accused of killing and dismembering partner and child
    15:31 Lady GaGa in Tel Aviv: Madonna, she wasn't
    12:14 ANALYSIS / 'Israel's No. 1 soldier' will push Obama away
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved