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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Holocaust denier to be released | Holocaust denier to be released |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An Austrian appeals court has ruled that UK historian David Irving - jailed for denying the Holocaust - should be released on probation. | An Austrian appeals court has ruled that UK historian David Irving - jailed for denying the Holocaust - should be released on probation. |
| Irving is now being held in police detention and will be deported to the UK on Thursday, officials said. | |
| 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". |
| The appeals court in Vienna had heard calls for both a reduction and increase in his sentence. | The appeals court in Vienna had heard calls for both a reduction and increase in his sentence. |
| 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". |
| The 68-year-old said he would urge an academic boycott of historians from Germany and Austria until the nations stopped jailing historians. | The 68-year-old 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. | "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 said the presiding judge converted the remaining two years of Irving's jail term to a provisional sentence, upholding his appeal. | The BBC's Kerry Skyring in Vienna said the presiding judge converted the remaining two years of Irving's jail term to a provisional sentence, upholding his appeal. |
| 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 |
| Speaking after the ruling, his lawyer, Herbert Schaller, said: "He is free, and he can leave, and he will leave." | Speaking after the ruling, his lawyer, Herbert Schaller, said: "He is free, and he can leave, and he will leave." |
| The historian is now waiting for the necessary paperwork to be completed before he can leave a police detention facility in Vienna for the UK, officials said. | The historian is now waiting for the necessary paperwork to be completed before he can leave a police detention facility in Vienna for the UK, officials said. |
| Irving's partner, Bente Hogh, told the Associated Press news agency: "He sounded like he was in good form. He's obviously very pleased to be free." | Irving's partner, Bente Hogh, told the Associated Press news agency: "He sounded like he was in good form. He's obviously very pleased to be free." |
| 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's release on probation has dismayed Jewish groups. | Irving's release on probation has dismayed Jewish groups. |
| Lord Janner, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress and president of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, said: "I am sorry that he did not serve out his full term, and I hope he will remain in Austria and not return to the United Kingdom, where he will not be welcome." | Lord Janner, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress and president of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, said: "I am sorry that he did not serve out his full term, and I hope he will remain in Austria and not return to the United Kingdom, where he will not be welcome." |
| Asked about Irving's comments about historians being put in prison, Lord Janner said: "I do not believe that he was put in prison because he was a historian. And historians should be treated in the same way as anyone else." | Asked about Irving's comments about historians being put in prison, Lord Janner said: "I do not believe that he was put in prison because he was a historian. And historians should be treated in the same way as anyone else." |
| Irving 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 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. |
What is your reaction to this news? Send us your views. | What is your reaction to this news? Send us your views. |