Austria Continues to Lose Her Liberties
Back in 2005, Austria arrested and in 2006 sent Holocaust-denying historian David Irving to prison for several months for the "crime" of "trivializing the Holocaust." At the time, I condemned this as an egregious violation of the right to free speech, and pointed out that Austria was in fact recapitulating, rather than fighting, fascism. I warned that prosecuting differences of opinion as crimes is dangerous, and would eventually lead to people being prosecuted for speaking truths, as well as lies.
This year Austria has proved me right.
"Susanne Winter Loses Her Parliamentary Immunity," by Baron Bodissey from Gates of Vienna (http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/11/susanne-winter-loses-her-parliamentary.html) details the story.
Susanne Winter is a Member of the Austrian Parliament who dared to point out that Mohammed, if he lived in modern Austrian society, would be considered a child molester (for marrying a 6-year-old girl and consumnating the marriage at 9, events attested to in the Koran). Despite the fact that her statement was true she was indicted on charges of incitement and "degradation of religious symbols and relgious agitation," the first offense of which she was obviously not guilty and the second offense of which is utterly unknown in any truly free society. Three days ago, the Austrian Parliament voted to remove her Parliamentary immunity, which means that she may wind up going to prison for merely pointing out the implications of what the Muslims' own holy book says about their prophet.
And a little more liberty dies in Europe.
This year Austria has proved me right.
"Susanne Winter Loses Her Parliamentary Immunity," by Baron Bodissey from Gates of Vienna (http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/11/susanne-winter-loses-her-parliamentary.html) details the story.
Susanne Winter is a Member of the Austrian Parliament who dared to point out that Mohammed, if he lived in modern Austrian society, would be considered a child molester (for marrying a 6-year-old girl and consumnating the marriage at 9, events attested to in the Koran). Despite the fact that her statement was true she was indicted on charges of incitement and "degradation of religious symbols and relgious agitation," the first offense of which she was obviously not guilty and the second offense of which is utterly unknown in any truly free society. Three days ago, the Austrian Parliament voted to remove her Parliamentary immunity, which means that she may wind up going to prison for merely pointing out the implications of what the Muslims' own holy book says about their prophet.
And a little more liberty dies in Europe.