Anti-neo Nazi shirt seller fined
A German judge on Friday fined the seller of a range of anti-neo Nazi t-shirts and badges because the products bear the infamous swastika symbol — with a large red line through it.
The logo — a red circle with a line across it superimposed on the Nazi emblem — is a popular image among left-wing activists and anti-neo Nazi campaigners in Germany and can be purchased on lapel-pins and items of clothing.
However, Wolfgang Kuellmer, a Stuttgart judge, ruled on Friday that its increasing popularity risked making the Nazi hooked cross acceptable again in Germany, over 60 years after it was outlawed following Hitler’s defeat.
“In particular this mass market business risked undermining its taboo status,” Kuellmer said.
Under German law, performing a Hitler salute, wearing Nazi uniform or displaying the swastika can carry a penalty of a fine or up to three years in prison.
1 response so far ↓
1 tattoo-bob // Sep 30, 2006 at 3:20 pm
It seems that there is no such thing as “free speech” anywhere anymore. Hell, you can’t even say anything bad about Bush without becoming a “terrorist”. If we don’t fight for our rights, then the Bill of Rights will be null & void.
Looks like that is what’s happening in Europe. Thank you very much European Union. The swastika (twisted cross) isn’t even a Nazi symbol per say, but that’s what it’s become known as. That symbol is as old as civilization.
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