EU bid to outlaw genocide denial faces backlash
People who question the official history of conflicts in Africa and the Balkans could be jailed for up to three years for "genocide denial", under proposed European Union legislation.
But the proposals, seen by the Telegraph of London, go much further and would criminalise those who question the extent of war crimes that have taken place in the past 20 years.
Deborah Lipstadt, professor of modern Jewish and Holocaust studies at Emory University, Atlanta, said the proposals were misplaced. "I adhere to that pesky little thing called free speech and I am very concerned when governments restrict it," Professor Lipstadt said.
"How will we determine precisely what is denial? Will history be decided by historians or in a courtroom?"
The proposals extend the idea of Holocaust denial to the "gross minimisation of genocide out of racist and xenophobic motives", to include crimes dealt with by the International Criminal Court.
Read entire article at Sydney Morning Herald
But the proposals, seen by the Telegraph of London, go much further and would criminalise those who question the extent of war crimes that have taken place in the past 20 years.
Deborah Lipstadt, professor of modern Jewish and Holocaust studies at Emory University, Atlanta, said the proposals were misplaced. "I adhere to that pesky little thing called free speech and I am very concerned when governments restrict it," Professor Lipstadt said.
"How will we determine precisely what is denial? Will history be decided by historians or in a courtroom?"
The proposals extend the idea of Holocaust denial to the "gross minimisation of genocide out of racist and xenophobic motives", to include crimes dealt with by the International Criminal Court.