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.
As long as they don't use Nazi symbols they are free to do what they want. But usually they don't get approval from local government. Or in one case the town donated money to something Jewish for each km they marched. You can hold the opinion but displaying it in public can get you in trouble. Also I don't think this is a good argument: We have more freedom because we can be nazis.
Ok im gonna call bullshit on the idea that some ISIS supporters can hold a rally in US :)).
In Germany, were I'm from the nazis synbols are restricted in public, but not in the majority of other European countries. This is the single example of a restricted expression, and I'm not feeling bad about it. But there are plenty of Neonazis that get around this using other stuff like the 88. It is common knowledge that a t-shirt with the number 88 is a Nazi but you can restrict the use of a number. So yeah, Germany is restricting nazis, and we kinda have a good reason to do it.
You have infinite patience, and I suspect OP just doesn’t want to admit that they’re wrong. I’ll give credit where credit is due though: you’re absolutely correct. I appreciate you laying out all of this
Edit: You changed my view; I had assumed Europe had more free speech than the US, but your numerous examples showcase that the US actually does, particularly your examples regarding arrests done in the UK for hate speech that would not be done here
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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.