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ThoughtCrime: 03/19/96

European Union Denies Freedom of the Press

   The interior ministers of the 15 European nations which comprise the "European Union" agreed to limit freedom of the press by targeting publishers or individuals who print or distribute Holocaust Revisionist books and pamphlets. Under the new European limits on freedom of the press, Britain has agreed to seize literature considered to be "racist" if it is intended for dissemination elsewhere.
 
    British Home Secretary Michael Howard, who angered many of his "European Union" partners as well as Jewish and immigrant groups when he stood up to the plan last November, finally buckled under the pressure to censor the people of Europe. Howard defended his position on Tuesday telling reporters, "I was able to agree to the joint action today and that's good news... I think it's important that we should cooperate to stop racism.''
 
    The move was prompted by pressure from various factions in Germany who were concerned about the abundance of material which casts doubt on the orthodox holocaust story. Expression of doubt regarding the holocaust story is a criminal offense in Germany and France. Politicians in Germany are concerned that individuals or groups which support the free and open exchange of ideas on the holocaust could take advantage of different laws in countries like Britain to print material there for distribution in Germany.
 
    In order to get Britain to agree to the continental censorship pact, the "European Union" partners agreed to annex to the plan thresholds in British law, which say literature has to be shown to be intended to incite racial hatred before being seized. Britain has argued that the threshold is necessary to ensure "freedom of speech."
 

Adapted from: Reuter - March 19, 1996