In Israel, Bid To Outlaw The Word Nazi Sparks Freedom Of Expression Concerns

[Purveyor]

JERUSALEM — An Israeli draft law that would criminalize the use of the word Nazi in most cases has sparked a debate on freedom of speech in a state that was founded out of the ashes of the Holocaust.

Seven decades later, memories of the extermination of millions of Jews during World War II permeate virtually every aspect of life in Israel. Public figures and interest groups frequently invoke the World War II genocide to score political points, and the word and Nazi symbols have slipped into Israeli discourse over the years.

The bill would impose a fine of 100,000 shekels (nearly $29,000) and six months in jail for anybody using the word or symbols from Adolf Hitler's Third Reich in a "wrong or inappropriate way." Educational settings would be exempt, as would certain artistic performances, said Shimon Ohayon, the bill's sponsor.

The Knesset gave preliminary approval to the measure on Wednesday, but it still must pass three more readings and committee discussions before becoming law. A similar effort in 2012 fell in committee amid opposition.

Ohayon, from the hard-line Yisrael Beitenu party, said the law would put Israel on par with other nations "battling anti-Semitism." He acknowledged enforcement would largely rely on violations being reported to police.

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http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/28670a51b4004330bb448c0cd7843dc0/ML-Israel-Nazi-Ban

[frazzled]

1. Denmark, France, Netherlands, UK all have such "hate speech laws"

Speech that incites hatred against any race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference. And some have further laws that criminalize Holocaust denial as well. (In France, "The Gayssot Act sets a punishment of five years' imprisonment and a €45,000 fine for the public expression of ideas that challenge the existence of the crimes against humanity committed by Nazi Germany during World War II as defined in the appendix to the London Agreement of 8 August 1945." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_France )

I, personally, don't agree with these laws. But I did want to point out that Israel would not be the first to limit such speech. In fact, they're pretty late to the game.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

2. The UK certainly doesn't have anything this broad. I'm not sure about the others.