Group fined for anti-Holocaust cartoon

An appellate court in Holland has fined an Arab organization for exercising its freedom of speech by publishing a cartoon questioning the Holocaust.

The Dutch branch of the Arab European League (AEL) published the cartoon on its website last year in an effort to highlight double standards in the European society and legal system, AFP reported.

The controversy emerged after Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard was allowed to publish blasphemous cartoons of Islam's Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

The cartoon was first published on September 30, 2005 in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, and reprinted repeatedly in newspapers in over 50, mostly Western, countries.

Neither Westergaard nor Jyllands-Posten were ever reprimanded for publishing the sacrilegious cartoons of Islam's holy prophet.

However, the Dutch high court fined the AEL $3,209 for what it called "unnecessary offense" in publishing their cartoons.

Challenging or disputing the Holocaust story is considered a major offense in Europe, entailing fines and long prison term. Many observers view this as a contradiction to the so-called democratic principles of Western democracies, namely the freedom of expression.

SES/MB /presstv.