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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.
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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."

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      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
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