Arbeit macht frei: - Fredrick Töben

Chapter 3
MESSAGE OF HOPE
After my 50 days in gaol, not only was I met by friend Peter Hartung but
also the local media welcomed me home to a new controversy:
7 News, 3 December 2008
Controversial Adelaide historian Fredrick Töben’s arrived home after
escaping criminal charges in Germany. But only minutes after his arrival
the accused Holocaust denier launched another stinging attack angering
the Jewish community.
Michelle Vella: Dr Töben was overcome with emotions as he landed in
Adelaide last night.
FT: What can I say? I’m very pleased to be back home.
Two months ago the 65-year-old was arrested and jailed in London at the
German government’s request. It wanted him to face charges of being a
Holocaust denier but the extradition case was thrown out but only minutes
after arriving home Dr Töben launched this stinging attack.
FT: The fact that I was put in jail and someone said, ‘Now you can sue’,
and I said No, I’m not a Jew. I don’t sue.
MV: The comments angered the local community.
Norman Schuler: Of course he’s offensive. That’s the mark of the man.
He’s trying to hide behind being an intellectual when he really is not.
MV: Dr Töben’s legal battles aren’t over yet. He faces a contempt finding
in the Federal Court for failing to stop publishing racist material on his
website. He could go to jail or be fined.
FT: I’ll not break the law. But I’ll still insist on expressing my point-of-view.
NS: You have a responsibility concurrent with your right to freedom of
speech to act with responsibility and to speak the truth, and he’s clearly
not speaking the truth.
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