Czech Police Arrests Former US Ku Klux Klan Leader

World | April 25, 2009, Saturday // 10:49
Czech Police Arrests Former US Ku Klux Klan Leader: Czech Police Arrests Former US Ku Klux Klan Leader David Duke is an American white nationalist, former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and former Republican Louisiana State Representative. Photo by www.davidduke.com

Former US Ku Klux Klan leader, David Duke, has been arrested by the Czech police Friday and faces up to three years behind bars

Duke is accused of the crime of Holocaust denial and the promotion of movements seeking suppression of human rights.

The official cite of David Duke confirms the arrest and has issued a lengthy statement blaming the Czech authorities of issuing false accusations and of tyranny.

"David Duke is a prisoner of conscience. This term, coined by Amnesty International, indicates someone who is "imprisoned because of their race, religion, color, language, sexual orientation, belief, or lifestyle so long as they have not used or advocated violence. It also refers to those who have been imprisoned and/or persecuted for the non-violent expression of their conscientiously-held belief," the site reads

Duke is on a visit in the Czech Republic on the invitation of local neo-Nazis to promote his memoir book "My Awakening", published in 1998.

Denial of Holocaust is a crime in the Czech Republic, punishable by up to 3 years behind bars. The police have the right to detain Duke for up to 48 hours and the Court then has 24 hours to make a decision about permanent detention.

Duke, who is an American white nationalist, former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, former Republican Louisiana State Representative, was scheduled to lecture during the weekend in Prague and Brno.

The Prague Karlov University cancelled Friday his lecture before students studying extremist practices over fears that the event could be interrupted by neo-Nazis.

The Czech Republic has seen lately an increased activity of extreme rightist groups.

Duke says he is a racial realist asserting "all people have a basic human right to preserve their own heritage." He speaks in favor of voluntary racial segregation and white separatism.

Duke has also unsuccessfully run for the Louisiana Senate, US Senate, US House of Representatives, Governor of Louisiana and twice for President of the United States.

 

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Tags: Ku Klux Klan, David Duke

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