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Holocaust denier back in Britain | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
British historian David Irving who was expelled from Austria following his early release from prison, has returned to the UK. | |
Mr Irving landed at Heathrow airport just before 2100 GMT, several hours after he was expected to arrive. | |
Earlier this week, he was released on probation from a three-year sentence imposed in Austria for a speech in 1989 in which he denied the Holocaust. | |
He served 13 months of the sentence and has now been banned from Austria. | |
Mr Irving's case sparked international debate about the limits of freedom of speech. | |
In his speech in Austria 17 years ago, he denied the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, though he later said he was "mistaken". | |
On Wednesday, he was unexpectedly released and welcomed the decision saying he was "fit and well". | |
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 |
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 Mr 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 |
Mr 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". |
Mr 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 Mr 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." | |
Mr 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, Mr Irving had said it was "ridiculous" he was being tried for expressing an opinion and that he had changed his views on the Holocaust. |