Replies

"Stupid opinions should not be criminal."

#1- this isn't a "stupid opinion", it is a bald faced lie. The man isn't stupid and he isn't giving an opinion. He is attempting to rewrite history.

#2- I agree that this shouldn't be prosecuted as a criminal case, it should be prosecuted as a political/ideological case. Since it is the official position of the French government that the holocaust did in fact happen, and in so far as this guy is disputing an official ideological/political position of the French government, he should be tried for treason, and deported, at the very least.

All nations have the freedom to allow or disallow those who espouse different political beliefs to propagandize within their borders. In the US we believe in freedom of speech so we tend to allow anyone to say just about anything, however, even that has limits. Try preaching the overthrow of the government and you will be charged with sedition. Likewise if you encourage violence or terrorism you could be charged as an accessory to the crime.

Finally there is the propagandizement of ideologies contrary to the constitution. It is a gray area and while we tend to allow it, we also try to ostracize and marginalize those who do it. Communism in the 50's, and inevitably Islam in the very near future.

Both ideologies expressly forbid the freedoms enumerated in the constitution. It would be nice if we could tolerate the propagandizment of these ideologies, but if one tolerates an ideology that refuses to tolerate other ideologies, very soon, the only ideology tolerated is the non tolerant ideology.

Islam, like communism, is such an ideology. France has no great tradition of tolerance and freedom of speech. If anything this guy is getting off easy. Others have gone to jail for simply criticizing another race or religion. What this guy did is twice as offensive as mere criticism.