UBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" Hungary passes Holocaust denial bill Tuesday, February 23, 2010       9 Adar, 5770         Web JPost.com create JPOST.COM your Home Page       Jerusalem 19 °C fresh York 2 °C London 2 °C   Home | Headlines | Iranian Threat | Jewish World | idea | Trade | true Estate | Local Israel | Blogs | Arts & Culture | Français  | Classifieds  Israel | Middle East | International | Health & Sci-Tech | Features | go | Cafe Oleh | Magazine | Sports | Israel Guide | Subscribe | Services Archives JP Toolbar Christian World Youth Magazines RSS Feeds News Ticker More Services JPost Store Israel Hotels Vacation Rentals Philanthropy Green Israel Car Rentals Learn Hebrew JPost Mall Sderot Dove JP Travel Guide Links Purim E-cards Christian World Ten Tribes Advertise on JPost Media Kit לימוד אנגלית      Breaking News     JPost.com Jewish World Jewish News   .large_body p, .large_body span { font-size: 18px; } .small_body p, .small_body span { font-size: 12px; } Photo by: GPO Hungary passes Holocaust denial bill By ASSOCIATED PRESS 23/02/2010 18:26 fresh law may be unconstitutional, earlier tries at banning have been rejected by courts.   BUDAPEST— Hungary's parliament on Monday approved a bill making Holocaust denial punishable by up to three years in prison, yet the measure may be unconstitutional.Lawmakers passed the bill submitted by Attila Mesterhazy, the prime ministerial candidate of the governing Socialist Party, by 197-1, with 142 abstentions.Earlier efforts to ban Holocaust denial have been rejected by the courts for infringing on freedom of speech. Efforts to modify the Constitution to ensure the bill's legality have also failed.Mesterhazy's proposal was backed by the Socialists and most of the Alliance of Free Democrats, a previous coalition partner. Most members of Fidesz, the main center- correct opposition party, and their allies, the Christian Democrats, abstained after Fidesz's wish to also include the denial of Nazi and Communist crimes in the bill was rejected.Free Democrat Gabor Horn, who voted in favor of the bill, questioned the timing of the Socialists' proposal and wondered why a similar effort by his own party a few months ago was not accepted."The disagreement is that six months ago there was no campaign," Horn stated.Parliamentary election will be held in April and polls display Fidesz leading the Socialists by a substantial margin. Jobbik, a relatively new far-right group accused by critics of racist views, is expected to easily clear the five percent threshold needed to enter parliament. despise speech and incitement to violence against minorities is already a crime in Hungary, however Monday's bill adds "denying, questioning or making light of the Holocaust" to the penal code.Hungary's Civil Liberties Union, or HCLU, said the bill was "unnecessary" and called on authorities to make more efficient use of existing laws.       Rate this article         Talkback Add a Talkback describe Abuse Read all Talkbacks end Thank you for sending your comment. Your reply has been recieved. If selected for publication, it will appear on our site as soon as feasible. The JPost.com Team Close Add Talkback: Please enter a valid name Please enter a valid address Subject *Author   State Message (MAX 600 characters) 600 *Email ( Will not be released )     I wish to recieve updates and offers from JPost.com * I have read and accepted the Readers' Submissions policy   Submit *Required fields   Send big little Print       Most Talkbacked Peres depicted bowing to ErdoganIsrael shrugs off massive banner unfurled near Istanbul.Talkbacks (70)23/02/2010 03:53PM on restrictions: If not now, when?Teheran plans two more uranium enrichment facilities.Talkbacks (30)22/02/2010 11:34French reconsider recognizing PalestineSarkozy, Kouchner stress state must be founded in negotiations.Talkbacks (25)23/02/2010 02:24     hungary budapest holocaust alliance of free democrats Attila Mesterhazy HCLU   Web JPost.com     JPosts Sites: The Jerusalem Report JPost Mall Philantropy Center Green Israel Jpost Edition Francaise Invest in Israel Christian World America's Voices Our Magazines Sites Of Interest: Car Rental Israel Car Rental in Israel Jpost Store Israel Hotels Vacation Apt. Rentals Sderot Dove KKL-JNF Learn hebrew Poalim Online BreitBart.com Maps of Israel Fundraising Ideas Web Hosting Providers Prom dresses & gowns Prom dresses Jovani Jerusalem Hotel Our Friends Services: JPost Toolbar JPost News Ticker JPost RSS feeds JPost Email Edition JP Subscriptions JPost Archives Learn English JPost Guides: Israel Guide Tour Guides Israel Attractions Information: About Us Feedback Staff E-mails Privacy Statement Copyright Media Kit Sitemap Terms of Use News Partners   About Us | Advertise with Us | Subscribe | Contact Us | RSS   © The Jerusalem Post 1995 - 2010 © 2010