Under a new law, it’s now forbidden to deny, trivialise, or otherwise justify the Holocaust in the Netherlands. The punishment? Up to ONE YEAR in prison!
Although Rutte’s cabinet stepped down two weeks ago, they’re still implementing new laws. This includes one that makes it a crime to deny the Holocaust, where millions of people were murdered throughout Europe, reports the NOS.
In addition to denying that the Holocaust happened, playing down the cruelty of the mass murder or attempting to justify it is also now illegal and could send you straight to jail.
A ban on trivialising or denying the Holocaust
Discrimination and racism have been prohibited for quite a while now, and denying the Holocaust was already technically punishable in the Netherlands.
However, it wasn’t yet explicitly written in the law — making it now more powerful to prosecute those that do it.
According to a recent survey conducted with 400 public school teachers in the Netherlands, nearly 1 in 10 reported encountering students who deny the occurrence of the #Holocaust. Holocaust denial and distortion are included in @TheIHRA's working definition of #antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/EO03e1msiC— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) May 4, 2023
Not only does the ban apply to denying the Holocaust, but also any genocide, crime against humanity, or a war crime. This new law is based on European obligations, which the Netherlands is finally implementing.
Anti-Semitism on the rise?
The new law comes amid concerns over rising anti-Semitism in the Netherlands.
Outgoing Minister Yesilgöz of Justice and Security, who was the one that brought the proposal to the table, says: “Unfortunately, denial of this kind of horrific crimes against humanity is the order of the day,” writes the NOS.
“We regularly see the monster of anti-Semitism rearing its head again.”
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However, the ban isn’t an entirely new idea either and was already discussed in the cabinet almost 15 years ago, but didn’t make it very far. Back then, it faced Mark Rutte’s opposition to it on account of… (wait for it!) freedom of expression. 🙄
14 years later though, Rutte gives his full support to the ban — and admits that his past words had been a little clumsy. (To say the least…)
Are your surprised by this new law? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Holocaust happened….it’s real!!!! Denying Holocaust is denying your own existence. This law should be implemented ASAP.