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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Holocaust denier to be released | Holocaust denier to be released |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An Austrian court has ruled that UK historian David Irving - jailed for denying the Holocaust - should be released on probation. | An Austrian court has ruled that UK historian David Irving - jailed for denying the Holocaust - should be released on probation. |
| The court had heard calls for both a reduction and increase in the three-year sentence. | The court had heard calls for both a reduction and increase in the three-year sentence. |
| Irving was convicted in February in a case that sparked international debate about the limits of freedom of speech. | Irving was convicted in February in a case that sparked international debate about the limits of freedom of speech. |
| In 1989 he spoke in Austria denying the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, though he later said he was "mistaken". | In 1989 he spoke in Austria denying the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, though he later said he was "mistaken". |
| Irving on Wednesday welcomed his release and said he was "fit and well". | Irving on Wednesday welcomed his release and said he was "fit and well". |
| He said he would urge an academic boycott of historians from Germany and Austria until the nations stopped jailing historians. | He said he would urge an academic boycott of historians from Germany and Austria until the nations stopped jailing historians. |
| "I was put in prison for three years for expressing an opinion 17 years ago," he said. | |
| Intense debate | Intense debate |
| The BBC's Kerry Skyring in Vienna says the sentence has been converted to one year in jail and two years suspended. | The BBC's Kerry Skyring in Vienna says the sentence has been converted to one year in jail and two years suspended. |
| The conditions of the probation are not yet known, including whether Irving will be able to leave Austria. | The conditions of the probation are not yet known, including whether Irving will be able to leave Austria. |
| COUNTRIES WITH LAWS AGAINST HOLOCAUST DENIAL AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicFranceGermanyIsraelLithuaniaPolandRomaniaSlovakiaSwitzerland Timeline: David Irving Denying the Holocaust | COUNTRIES WITH LAWS AGAINST HOLOCAUST DENIAL AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicFranceGermanyIsraelLithuaniaPolandRomaniaSlovakiaSwitzerland Timeline: David Irving Denying the Holocaust |
| But his lawyer, Herbert Schaller, said: "He is free, and he can leave, and he will leave." | But his lawyer, Herbert Schaller, said: "He is free, and he can leave, and he will leave." |
| Both the prosecution and defence had challenged the length of the sentence. The crime carries a prison term of up to 10 years. | Both the prosecution and defence had challenged the length of the sentence. The crime carries a prison term of up to 10 years. |
| The 1992 law targets "whoever denies, grossly plays down, approves or tries to excuse the National Socialist genocide". | The 1992 law targets "whoever denies, grossly plays down, approves or tries to excuse the National Socialist genocide". |
| Irving, 68, was arrested in November last year on a motorway in southern Austria. He was visiting to give a lecture to a far-right student fraternity. | Irving, 68, was arrested in November last year on a motorway in southern Austria. He was visiting to give a lecture to a far-right student fraternity. |
| The conviction had sparked intense debate with supporters saying it was fully justified but opponents arguing it undermined the right of freedom of speech. | The conviction had sparked intense debate with supporters saying it was fully justified but opponents arguing it undermined the right of freedom of speech. |
| At the initial trial, Irving had said it was "ridiculous" he was being tried for expressing an opinion and that he had changed his views on the Holocaust. | At the initial trial, Irving had said it was "ridiculous" he was being tried for expressing an opinion and that he had changed his views on the Holocaust. |