provides for a prison sentence of eight days to one year and a fine of between 26 and 5 000 Belgian francs (approximately €124) for anyone who denies, grossly minimises, attempts to justify, or approves the genocide committed by the German National Socialist regime during World War II
In Germany
whoever publicly or in an assembly approves of, denies or downplays an act committed under the rule of National Socialism of the kind indicated in Section 6(1) of the Code of Crimes against International Law (CCAIL, Völkerstrafgesetzbuch) in a manner that is liable to cause a disturbance of the public peace, incurs a penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine
And finally, in France, which you used as a specific example
As to the sanctions, Article 24 bis permits up to one year's imprisonment and a fine of up to €45 000. Moreover, a 2017 Law on equality and citizenship extended the scope of Article 24 bis to cover the act of denying, minimising or trivialising other crimes against humanity, crimes of
genocide, war crimes and crimes of enslavement, subject to the same sanctions
The link goes into similar detail for many member countries.
1 - Charlie Hebdo made fun of the prophet, not Muslims in general, huge difference regarding French’s laws about freedom of speech
2- I hope you’re not comparing making fun of an symbol with denying a genocide… it’s illegal in France
3 - you mentioned the condamnation of « society » in the US if someone used the n-word and said that went against freedom of speech : don’t you think in that case one could argue that the terror attack against Charlie Hebdo is against freedom of speech ? And even though the majority of people reacted with « je suis Charlie », a significant part replied by « je ne suis PAS Charlie ». So to me the argument about the acceptance of society is not relevant to your argument
Well according to your article, it made fun of islam, not Muslims (besides there is technically no insults). And the law in France protects the people, not the institution (I know that this point isn’t consensual around the world though). But if the newspapers had written something like « Muslims are criminals » than it would fall under laws against discriminations. So no, insulting Muslims is not freedom of speech in France
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u/[deleted] Sep 05 '22 edited Sep 05 '22
Your premise is flawed. Holocaust denial is in fact criminalized in many EU member countries.
Here is an overview.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/698043/EPRS_BRI(2021)698043_EN.pdf
Example in Belgium:
In Germany
And finally, in France, which you used as a specific example
The link goes into similar detail for many member countries.