Swiss won’t prosecute legislator accused of betraying his country

ZURICH, March 2 (JTA) — A member of the Swiss Parliament who had been accused of anti-Swiss behavior will not be prosecuted, according to government officials. A group of right-wing citizens had leveled the charges against Jean Ziegler after publication of his book, “Switzerland, Gold and the Dead” and in the wake of his testimony in the U.S. Senate about issues related to Swiss dealings with the Nazis during World War II. In deciding not to prosecute, the Swiss Federal Council decided that this was a freedom of speech issue and that there is a real need for public debate on Switzerland’s past. Representatives of the Swiss Jewish community welcomed the government’s decision, saying it was long overdue.