A Question for our German Members

[Strelnikov]

This one has me puzzled. The following article is exactly as it appeared in my Tuesday newspaper:

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Club Owner On Trial Over Cancellation

Munich, Germany –A Munich club owner went on trial Monday on charges of incitement to hate and anti-Semitism for cancelling a Jewish charity event that featured the late Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin’s granddaughter. Rudolf Fischer, 52, cancelled the event for 400 guests at his Y Julieta club in March 2001, telling the media at the time that he didn’t allow political events to be staged there. But Claus Peter Zistl, an attorney for the charity, said Fischer told one of its members he had cancelled the event because “he wanted nothing to do” with Jews.

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If the club had been in Miami instead of Munich, the owner would have lost customers due to bad publicity. But since his action didn’t involve incitement to riot, or the Public Accomodation provisions of the Civil Rights Act, it would be none of the Government’s business.

A lawyer for the charity is involved – is this a civil or criminal matter? What law has this man broken? What actions are illegal, and what are the criteria for deciding whether they are violated?

Strelnikov

 

[Marauder]

Give us the source from where you've distilled this snippet, and I'll try and follow it up. Most likely he did more than just tell someone he "didn't want anything to do with jews", which would be within his personal freedom of expression. Until I can see the article in its entirety, there's really no answering your question.

 

[Strelnikov]

Marauder...

All I know about this is in the news article that I posted. There was no other information. Source was given as "From wire reports", which isn't very informative.

Maybe Hal knows something about this. Munchen is his town, isn't it?

Strelnikov

 

[Haltickling]

I followed this news, and reply about it soon. Just lost my computer, this is from an internet cafe. Later!

 

[Strelnikov]

Thanks. The story provided just enough information to raise questions in my mind, while answering none of them.

Strelnikov

 

[Haltickling]

Yep, that story caused a lot of public uproar in Germany, too. The local papers were full of it. BTW: anti-semitism is considered a punishable crime here, so that's the main reason why this stupid asshole calling himself a restaurant owner faces a very unpleasant trial right now, after which he will see the loss of his gastronomy license as only a minor problem...

Unfortunately, a small minority of idiots can get a lot more attention than any amount of sensible people!

 

[milagros317]

he was convicted

According to an Associated Press report of September 4, 2002, Rudolf Fischer was convicted of "incitement to hate" and anti-Semitism. He was given 6 months' probation, and fined $2480. His lawyers indicated that the verdict would be appealed.

Judge Max Boxleitner said that the testimony against Fishcer was extrememly credible, while the defense witnesses, who backed Fischer's version of the conversation, had actually been too far away to hear it.

Here is one site where you can find the AP report:

http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/international/ap_munich09042002.htm