Justice Minister Juergen Schmude of the Social Democratic Party has drafted legislation to tighten laws against neo-Nazi activities in West Germany. His legislation, which has been discussed in a Bundestag subcommittee and presented to the press Wednesday calls for empowering state prosecutors to bring to trial any person who denies publicly that the Holocaust occurred or that the Nazis committed genocide. It would also ban the import and distribution of Nazi emblems and other propaganda material in the country. But the legislation does not include a ban on the distribution and sale of Nazi books and records which originated in Nazi Germany, such as Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.” A proposed ban on such material was dropped following protests by scientists and academicians that it would curb research.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
