(From the Adelaide Institute Website)
Dr Fredrick Töben, Director of Adelaide Institute Website and editor of Adelaide Institute Newsletter, was arrested in Mannheim, Germany, on April 9th, 1999, by two German officials, Hans-Heiko Klein, Public Prosecutor, and State Security Police (Staatsschutz) Superintendent Mohr, for "thought crimes". (...)
ENTRAPMENT
We feel that this arrest was a case of entrapment, in that Dr Töben had a private talk with Herr Klein, in which he raised some issues concerning the Holocaust, on April 8th, 1999. He was then invited to return for further discussion next day, at which time he met not only Klein, but also Herr Mohr, who did not initially identify himself as belonging to the political police.
During the course of conversation, Klein was asked if he believed in the Holocaust, which he immediately agreed to. Fredrick Töben was asked if he also agreed with the Holocaust story, to which he responded: "that's what you say". This degree of implied scepticism was enough for Superintendent Mohr to call for Fredrick's immediate arrest on a charge of "defaming the memory of the dead". Apparently only full and hearty agreement is permissible in Germany.
PRIVATE CONVERSATION
Adelaide Institute wishes to emphasise that Fredrick Töben's remarks were in the course of a private conversation with Messrs Klein and Mohr. At no time did he make any public statements on the Holocaust, hold rallies, make speeches or in any other way make any public statements of disbelief in the Holocaust inside Germany outside his encounter with these two men. This "thought crime" was held to be sufficient to arrest him.
PRESERVE INTERNET FREE SPEECH
The historical content of Adelaide Institute Website will no doubt be produced at a trial, and it is our understanding that Herr Klein has already downloaded extensive material from Adelaide Institute Website, but this is an illegitimate action on the part of the German State and legal system, in that the Internet is in the international public domain, and is outside German jurisdiction. Any such material, in a fair trial, should be declared null and void and irrelevant.
INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE
The Internet has international coverage, crossing international "borders". By what right does Germany impose its censorship on it? Germans are not obliged to view revisionist material if they disagree with it or are offended by it, whereas they ARE obliged to accept the orthodox view of the Holocaust imposed on them by German authorities.
AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN
Dr Töben is an Australian citizen, operating a Website that is legal in Australia, and he has actually supplied copies of the content of the Website to federal police in Australia who confirm that it does not break Australian law. The German State is once again outside its jurisdiction in seeking to give itself the status of international law and acting as "censors" of material that is legal within the country of origin. Consequently, this is a violation of the rights of an Australian citizen, and the Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, the Australian Government and Opposition are being approached to assert Dr Töben's rights as an Australian citizen which are being violated by the German State for thought police crimes.
POLITICAL PRISONER
Dr Töben is a political prisoner, who has been unjustly and illegitimately arrested inside Germany on the basis of a private conversation and on the content of a Website which operates in another country and does not contravene Australian law. The actions of the German State are thus illegitimate.
LAWYER HIRED
A Lawyer has been hired to defend Dr Töben and updates will be issued as more information comes to hand about Dr Töben.
WORLDWIDE SUPPORT
Messages of support have been received all over the world for Dr Töben's struggle to maintain historical truth and free discussion. EFA (Electronic Frontiers Association) has told us that they will support Dr Töben on the issue of free speech on the Internet.
VIEWER SUPPORT
Any persons viewing this are invited to write, e-mail or fax German Embassies and Consulates and Australian Embassies and Consulates with a call for Dr Töben's immediate release from Mannheim Prison, and Adelaide Institute wishes to thank all people that have indicated their support for the struggle for historical truth.
MARTYR FOR TRUTH
Dr Töben has joined the list of martyrs for historical truth and his suffering will not be in vain. The struggle for historical truth will continue, just as he would wish. As we begin to enter the 21st Century the struggle for truth will survive, and will last as long as the spirit of man survives. God is with us in this struggle. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty." Website visitors, please join us in this fight.
Geoff Muirden, Assistant Director, Adelaide Institute
E-Mail: [email protected]
PO Box 3300, Norwood, South Australia 5067
ARTICLE 19. <Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.>The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, in Paris.