Changes

Many European countries have a legal system based on civil codes rather than the common law.  This means that the legislature spells out every illegal act in detail instead of having courts fill in the gaps using case law from prior decisions.  Also, some countries do not have the tradition of free speech and the [[First Amendment]] that is a key factor in the United States.  So regulation of "hate speech" in Europe does not have a counterpart in U.S. "hate crime" statutes.

Many European countries have a legal system based on civil codes rather than the common law.  This means that the legislature spells out every illegal act in detail instead of having courts fill in the gaps using case law from prior decisions.  Also, some countries do not have the tradition of free speech and the [[First Amendment]] that is a key factor in the United States.  So regulation of "hate speech" in Europe does not have a counterpart in U.S. "hate crime" statutes.

===Holocaust denial and homosexuality===

===Holocaust denial and homosexuality===

At least nine Western countries have made it a crime<ref>Revisionists in France and Germany have been heavily fined for their views" (Weber). Other countries that have different laws against Holocaust denial include Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Canada, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. [http://www.history.ucsb.edu/projects/holocaust/Research/VariousPapers/MonizDeniers034.htm Holocaust Denial] </ref>

At least nine Western countries have made it a crime<ref>Revisionists in France and Germany have been heavily fined for their views" (Weber). Other countries that have different laws against Holocaust denial include Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Canada, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. [http://www.history.ucsb.edu/projects/holocaust/Research/VariousPapers/MonizDeniers034.htm Holocaust Denial]</ref>

to deny the historical reality of the Nazi [[Holocaust]] (the genocide of 6 million Jews and 5 million others). The idea is that it is "hateful" to the survivors and to the relatives of the victims to pretend that this painful episode never occurred.

to deny the historical reality of the Nazi [[Holocaust]] (the genocide of 6 million Jews and 5 million others). The idea is that it is "hateful" to the survivors and to the relatives of the victims to pretend that this painful episode never occurred.

Some people argue that being Jewish is a matter of race and thus unchangeable, and that being homosexual is likewise immutable. On these grounds they go on to assert that criticizing a person for being homosexual is just as "hateful" as denying the Holocaust. A serious movement has begun to brand criticism of homosexuality as [[hate speech]] and thus to outlaw it. It is succeeding in liberal countries of Europe and has spread to the United States. However, others feel that Holocaust denial is a different situation than criticism of homosexuals. Even those against homosexuals freely admit that some were killed in the Holocaust as a result of their sexual orientation. Denying this would be completely different than merely denying that their sexuality was "natural".

Some people argue that being Jewish is a matter of race and thus unchangeable, and that being homosexual is likewise immutable. On these grounds they go on to assert that criticizing a person for being homosexual is just as "hateful" as denying the Holocaust. A serious movement has begun to brand criticism of homosexuality as hate speech and thus to outlaw it. It is succeeding in liberal countries of Europe and has spread to the United States. However, others feel that Holocaust denial is a different situation than criticism of homosexuals. Even those against homosexuals freely admit that some were killed in the Holocaust as a result of their sexual orientation. Denying this would be completely different than merely denying that their sexuality was "natural".

===Immigration and censorship===

===Immigration and censorship===

In 2014, the Swedish Parliament extended its hate crime legislstion to reporting facts about immigrant crimes, police noting descriptions of offenders, criticism of government immigration policy, and criticism of politicians who voted for immigration legislstion.<ref>[http://investmentwatchblog.com/sweden-passes-law-to-criminalize-any-criticism-of-immigration/ Sweden Passes A New Law to Criminalize Any Criticism of Immigration Or Politician’s Unwillingness To Tackle The Issue], ''Ivestment Watch'', DECEMBER 8, 2014.  investmentwatchblog.com </ref>

In 2014, the Swedish Parliament extended its hate crime legislstion to reporting facts about immigrant crimes, police noting descriptions of offenders, criticism of government immigration policy, and criticism of politicians who voted for immigration legislstion.<ref>[http://investmentwatchblog.com/sweden-passes-law-to-criminalize-any-criticism-of-immigration/ Sweden Passes A New Law to Criminalize Any Criticism of Immigration Or Politician’s Unwillingness To Tackle The Issue], ''Ivestment Watch'', DECEMBER 8, 2014.  investmentwatchblog.com</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Anti-Defamation League]]

*[[Anti-Defamation League]]