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| Austria expels Holocaust denier | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| British historian David Irving has been expelled from Austria and is returning to the UK after his early release from prison for denying the Holocaust. | |
| Mr Irving left on a flight for the UK around 1900 GMT, airport officials said. He has been banned from Austria. | |
| 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". |
| He was unexpectedly released on Wednesday after serving a third of his three-year prison sentence. | He was unexpectedly released on Wednesday after serving a third of his three-year prison sentence. |
| Although Austrian authorities have permanently banned him from Austria, he told Agence France Presse: "I have no interest in coming back." | Although Austrian authorities have permanently banned him from Austria, he told Agence France Presse: "I have no interest in coming back." |
| Intense debate | Intense debate |
| On Wednesday he welcomed his release and said he was "fit and well". | On Wednesday he 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. |
| 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. |
| Irving's reputation as a credible historian is shot Karen PollockHolocaust Educational Trust Reactions to Irving release | Irving's reputation as a credible historian is shot Karen PollockHolocaust Educational Trust Reactions to Irving release |
| 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. |
| COUNTRIES WITH LAWS AGAINST HOLOCAUST DENIAL AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicFranceGermanyIsraelLithuaniaPolandRomaniaSlovakiaSwitzerland Timeline: David Irving Denying the Holocaust The 1992 law targets "whoever denies, grossly plays down, approves or tries to excuse the National Socialist genocide". | COUNTRIES WITH LAWS AGAINST HOLOCAUST DENIAL AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicFranceGermanyIsraelLithuaniaPolandRomaniaSlovakiaSwitzerland Timeline: David Irving Denying the Holocaust 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." | 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." |
| 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. |