EU Law to outlaw Genocide denial defeated

Reports from Brussels indicate that the attempt -- most strongly supported by Germany -- to outlaw genocide denial has been defeated.

The EU reached the following compromise: "publicly condoning, denying or grossly trivialising crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes" must be made a crime in each EU state. However the statement also included a concession that such prosecutions could only succeed where such conduct is likely to incite hatred or violence.

In short member states are pretty much left to themselves. This is a good thing as I have frequently argued on this blog and in various interviews. Ironically, deniers will also declare it a victory and contend that this shows Europe's doubts about the veracity of the Holocaust. It, of course, does no such thing.

My fear is that the deniers' crowing will produce a series of "oy-gevalt" emails from Jewish sources. Some people will probably link it last week's false scares about the UK dropping teaching of the Holocaust.