Ernst Zundel was released from a German prison this Monday, after serving 5 years in prison for his denying that the Holocaust every took place. Zundel has finally made his way back to Canada after 7 years, 3 weeks and 3 prisons in Germany. Zundel did not comment when asked if he still believed that there was no Holocaust. "It's kind of a sad situation; there's a lot to say. I'll certainly be careful not to offend anyone and their draconian laws" he stated. The German born Zundel, had been living in Canada for the last four decades, where he made frequent court visits to argue his anti-semetic views regarding the Holocaust. He had expressed his beliefs in books and websites. Zundel was deported to Germany in 2005 after the Federal court ruled that he was a threat to National security. Zundel was arrested upon arrival in his home country, and held without bail. In 2007, he was convicted of 14 counts of inciting racial hatred and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Zundel had received the maximum sentence under the German law for denying the holocaust. In many European countries such as Germany, Austria, Poland, Belgium,and Spain it is against the law to say that the Holocaust did not happen. Zundel spent only three years in jail as he received credit for the 2 prior years waiting to tried. Zundel has spent the last seven years of his life forced to live in Germany for expressing his own personal beliefs. Canada has done the wrong thing by deporting him, as Canada does not persecute people for expressing their opinions. This is a country where everyone is entitled to freedom of speech. However, I personally do not agree with what Zundel is saying, but the government does not have the right to take away his citizenship. It would be different if he were to be living in Germany and expressing his views there. Since Canada could not legally sentence him in Canada they had to deport him to Germany, where he was guaranteed to be charged with a crime.
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