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Austria expels Holocaust denier Holocaust denier back in Britain
(about 1 hour 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. British historian David Irving who was expelled from Austria following his early release from prison, has returned to the UK.
Mr Irving left on a flight for the UK around 1900 GMT, airport officials said. He has been banned from Austria. Mr Irving landed at Heathrow airport just before 2100 GMT, several hours after he was expected to arrive.
Irving was convicted in February in a case that sparked international debate about the limits of freedom of speech. 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.
In 1989 he spoke in Austria denying the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, though he later said he was "mistaken". He served 13 months of the sentence and has now been banned from Austria.
He was unexpectedly released on Wednesday after serving a third of his three-year prison sentence. 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 debateIntense debate
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 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 releaseIrving'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." 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".
Irving's release on probation has dismayed Jewish groups. 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 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 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."
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. 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, 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, 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.