Huhne backs holocaust denier in extradition case

Saturday, 4 October 2008 12:00 PM

Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne has spoken out in defence of an alleged holocaust denier arrested in the UK earlier this week.

Mr Huhne told BBC's Radio 4 Today programme British courts should refuse to act on an EU arrest warrant requesting the extradition of Dr Gerald Toben who has been remanded in custody since his arrest.

German authorities allege Dr Toben published online material "of an anti-semitic and/or revisionist nature".

However holocaust denial is not a crime in the UK and Mr Huhne said Dr Toben should not be extradited.

Dr Toben, a German-born former schoolteacher, was en route from the United States to Dubai when he was arrested.

He has been remanded in custody ahead of a bail hearing on 10th October and a full hearing on 17th October.

While making clear that he was completely opposed to anti-semitism, Mr Huhne said: "We don't in this country tend to prosecute people for issues that we regard as issues of freedom of speech".

He added the case seemed "pretty dodgy" given the fact the offence was not committed in Germany.

Human rights campaigners are backing Dr Toben arguing that his views
- however unpleasant - do not make him a criminal in the UK.

But the Crown Prosecution Service, acting for the German authorities, argues agreements signed in 2003 between the UK and other European countries mean that Britain is duty-bound to assist the German authorities.

Mr Huhne countered this however telling the Today programme that countries could "pick and choose" cases in which they would apply warrants issued by fellow EU member states.

He said there were good legal grounds for refuse in this case adding Belgium wass refusing to send suspects to Poland on murder charges which related to abortion.

Dr Toben has previously described the Holocaust as "a lie" and has claimed on his Australian-based website, the Adelaide Institute, there was "no proof" Hitler systematically exterminated the Jews.

In court earlier this week, Dr Toben, 64, claimed he was the victim of a "legal ambush" and promised never to return to Britain if he was allowed to leave.

Tags: