Ludwig Zind, the fugitive ex-Nazi school teacher who was seized in Naples Monday may escape return to Germany to serve a one-year prison sentence for anti-Semitic activities, it was disclosed today.
West German Foreign Ministry officials said that the extradition of Zind was doubtful because the offenses for which Zind was convicted in Offenburg in 1958 might be considered “political crimes” under the Italian criminal code and, as such, not grounds for extradition.
Under the Italian code, libels against the dead and the making of anti-Semitic statements are not recognized as ordinary criminal offenses. Anti-Semitic statements are punishable in Italy, but only as a “political offense,” the maximum sentence for which is six months. A one-year sentence is required to place the crime in the extradition category.
Under these circumstances, it was pointed out, the West German authorities will not make a formal request for Zind’s extradition until this question has been discussed with the Italian authorities.
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