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'Holocaust revisionist' on trial for anti-Semitic songs | 'Holocaust revisionist' on trial for anti-Semitic songs |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A blogger and self-confessed "Holocaust revisionist" is on trial accused of broadcasting "grossly offensive" anti-Semitic songs on the internet. | A blogger and self-confessed "Holocaust revisionist" is on trial accused of broadcasting "grossly offensive" anti-Semitic songs on the internet. |
Alison Chabloz, 53, from Derbyshire, wrote and performed three songs about Jewish people persecuted by the Nazis, including the young diarist Anne Frank. | Alison Chabloz, 53, from Derbyshire, wrote and performed three songs about Jewish people persecuted by the Nazis, including the young diarist Anne Frank. |
Some are set to a Jewish folk tune. | Some are set to a Jewish folk tune. |
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Ms Chabloz denied five counts of improper use of the public communications network. | Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Ms Chabloz denied five counts of improper use of the public communications network. |
The songs accuse Jewish people of unethical money lending, question whether the Holocaust happened and describe the Auschwitz concentration camp as "a theme park for fools". | The songs accuse Jewish people of unethical money lending, question whether the Holocaust happened and describe the Auschwitz concentration camp as "a theme park for fools". |
Karen Robinson, prosecuting, said this was "an extraordinarily offensive description of perhaps the most traumatic event in Jewish history". | |
She said the songs "are anti-Semitic, targeted at Jewish people as a whole. They use content and tone to ensure offence. The songs are designed to provoke maximum upset and discomfort". | She said the songs "are anti-Semitic, targeted at Jewish people as a whole. They use content and tone to ensure offence. The songs are designed to provoke maximum upset and discomfort". |
She added: "By the standards of an open and multi-racial society, they are grossly offensive." | She added: "By the standards of an open and multi-racial society, they are grossly offensive." |
The court heard that two songs were performed at a London Forum Event held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London in September 2016 and uploaded to YouTube days afterwards. | The court heard that two songs were performed at a London Forum Event held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London in September 2016 and uploaded to YouTube days afterwards. |
A third song was uploaded to YouTube in September 2017. | A third song was uploaded to YouTube in September 2017. |
As the videos were played in court, a group of Ms Chabloz's supporters in the public gallery applauded. | As the videos were played in court, a group of Ms Chabloz's supporters in the public gallery applauded. |
District Judge John Zani warned them they would be asked to leave if they did so again. | District Judge John Zani warned them they would be asked to leave if they did so again. |
The court heard that Ms Chabloz had been interviewed by police, and accepted that the songs were "close to the bone" but denied they were grossly offensive. | The court heard that Ms Chabloz had been interviewed by police, and accepted that the songs were "close to the bone" but denied they were grossly offensive. |
Chabloz, of Charlesworth, Glossop, Derbyshire, told officers that the prosecution was an attempt to limit her free speech. | Chabloz, of Charlesworth, Glossop, Derbyshire, told officers that the prosecution was an attempt to limit her free speech. |
She denies two counts of sending by a public communications network an offensive, indecent or menacing message or material - in relation to two of the three songs. | She denies two counts of sending by a public communications network an offensive, indecent or menacing message or material - in relation to two of the three songs. |
She also denies two alternative counts of "causing" offensive material to be sent by a public communications network, after her performance was posted on her blog. | She also denies two alternative counts of "causing" offensive material to be sent by a public communications network, after her performance was posted on her blog. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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