Release David Irving!

I've been a little disappointed by the relative silence on the Right about the news that British holocaust denier David Irving has been sentenced by an Austrian court to three years in prison.  As offensive as Irving's ideas are, criminalizing speech is as antithetical to American values as threatening a journalist for printing an offensive cartoon, a government restricting citizens' access to certain subjects or writers, and jailing librarians for distributing dangerous books.

This kind of thought policing is common to both the Islamic world and Europe, and Europe's hate speech laws are one reason why it lacks credibility on the issue of free expression.  As Power Line's John Hinderaker put it:

it's pretty hard to take the high ground with regard to freedom of speech--over, say, the Danish cartoons--when you're sending people to jail for "grossly playing down" or "trying to excuse" Nazi crimes. Some say, of course, that for Europe the Holocaust is unique and deserves this special legal status. But then, the Muslims think Mohammed is unique, too. Once you start making exceptions of this sort, it's hard to know when to stop."

As usual, I think Hinderaker nails it.  Given the uproar over the Danish cartoons, Europe should be re-thinking its hate speech laws, not stepping up enforcement or thinking up new ones.

Although I sometimes wonder whether Islamo-fascism and Europe aren't a match made in heaven, it is still possible that Europe could come to its senses.  In that regard, and not that they've ever been particularly appreciative of unsolicited advice from us, I think a little more support from the Bush administration would be helpful. Specifically, a clear and unequivocal statement of support for Denmark is shamefully overdue. 

With his usual brilliance, Christopher Hitchens takes the Bush administration to task and proposes a peaceful demonstration at the Danish embassy in DC as a show of solidarity.  If I didn't live in Southern California, I'd certainly be there.   

Comments

[Sean68]

Well, I couldn't disagree with a word. Putting David Irving in jail is downright medieval; and stupid. Not only for the reasons you've spelled out--namely, its managed to lend credibility to the grievances of embassy-burning moblamist--but also because it elevates Irving into something that anyone familiar with the man or his work will know that he craves--martyrdom. And who's to say he's not a martyr? This is bullshit.