Authors of hate speech will face up to four years imprisonment and a BGN 5,000 fine, according to the newly adopted amendments to the Bulgarian Penal Code. The penalty will apply to journalists and authors in the media and in electronic information systems, such as websites. The newly adopted amendments explain in details the forms of discrimination and incitement that will be punishable.
They include discrimination, based on sexual orientation, religion, disabilities and social standing among others. Besides facing jail and fines, violators will also be held up to public censure. The sanctions will be the same for use of violence or property damage, based on race, nationality, ethnicity, religion and political views. Racist or xenophobic murders would be punished with 10 to 20 years imprisonment. The amendments also envision an increase of the penalties for destruction of a protected area, valuable rock formations and cliffs. The fines for perpetrators would range from BGN 2,000 to BGN 10,000. The Penal Code will from now on oblige the Bulgarian state to recognize and apply legal implications of convictions, issued in other EU countries.
Novinite
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Racist yobs attack historic Eastwell church (UK)
Nazi swastikas have been daubed on an historic Kent church - causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
The mindless graffiti - which included anti Semitic abuse and a skull - was painted on the ruins of St Mary’s Church in Eastwell.
Would have been the aisle and exterior walls were covered.
Police in Ashford believe the racist attack happened sometime between October 1 to 15 are now hunting the yobs who did it.
"The graffiti, which is offensive and racial, covers a large area and will cost a considerable amount of money to clean.
"All graffiti is vandalism, however to do this to a church, even if in ruins, is despicable behaviour."
The church in Lenacre Street has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.
It is also a scheduled monument.
Matthew Saunders, director of Friends of Friendless Churches who own the ruins, spoke of his disgust after finding the graffiti.
He said: "To make a church a canvas for spreading racial hatred is appalling.
"We have consolidated the ruins of St Mary's at some considerable expense and to have to spend more money on removing these violent offensive words is not how we expected to have to allocate our very limited resources."
Anyone with information should contact South Kent police on 01622 690 690 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Kent Online
Swedish police link 'racist' shootings to lone gunman (Sweden)
Detectives say they are linking up to 15 gun attacks in the city over the past year that have targeted people of immigrant background.
The investigation comes amid growing tension in Sweden over immigration.
In elections in September, 20 members of a far-right anti-immigration party won seats in parliament.
Police have not revealed exactly which cases the special unit is looking into.
However, Swedish media report that they include one fatal shooting - a 20-year-old woman last October who was sitting in a car.
In recent weeks, two men of ethnic minority background have also been shot and wounded while waiting at bus stops in the city.
And on Thursday evening two women described by police as "immigrants from a European country" were wounded after being shot through their apartment window.
Map locator
"We have established a special unit here in Malmo to investigate between 10 and 15 similar crimes," police spokesman Lars-Haakan Lindholm told AFP news agency.
"It does appear there are racist motives. We are receiving help from profilers from the national police force. This is our number one top priority right now."
The investigation has revived memories of a spate of racially-motivated attacks in and around the Swedish capital Stockholm from August 1991 to January 1992.
John Ausonius, now 57, killed one person and wounded 10 others. He was jailed for life in 1994.
Malmo, which has a significant immigrant population, was the scene of riots in December 2009 following the closure of an Islamic centre.
BBC News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)