In Belgium, denying the holocaust took place is punishable by law. Offenders may get a fine, or serve up to a year in jail. Does anyone know if similair laws excist in other countries as well?

The Austrian "Verbotsgesetz 1948" of course which makes punishable by law
1. the forming of a group intending to "resurrect" the NSDAP
2. publication of Nazi propaganda
3. denial of the holocaust in public
etc.

This is why in Austria it is actually illegal to own a private copy of "Mein Kampf" for example (of course still openly available in libraries).

From a judicial POV I doubt that denying the holocaust in private conversation is illegal in Belgium, but rather that like in Austria it is punishable to state it publicly or publicate it in written/recorded form.

Belgium is getting a little carried away lately. People who deny the holocaust ever took place make enough of an ass out of themselves by merely making such a statement. let them speak, we all need to point our fingers and laugh every now and then.

They also banned "Vlaams Blok", although any sane person would disagree with such a political group, they still have a right to speak their minds. That's what you get when you claim to be a democracy. And besides, it's Belgiums second largest party these days, you can't deny the will of the people.

No such laws exist in Sweden.

Edit: Although I don't know if it's legal to wear swastikas and shout "Sieg Heil" in public. Most nazis tend to avoid this when they have their little parades. I suppose a certain "clean" behaviour is a condition they have to meet if they want to get a permission to hold a public meetings.

[ 11-10-2004, 06:15 PM: Message edited by: Stratos ]

wow...i did not know that.....wonder if somthing like that's here in US

the supposedly "Free" country XD