USA - Holocaust-denial film blocked in Aspen

A controversial Holocaust-denial film is raising questions about free speech at Grassroots Television, an Aspen community-access station.

Steve Campbell, founder of Citizens for 9/11 Truth, asked the station to air “Judea Declares War on Germany: A Critical Look at World War II” on Monday, but Grassroots board members stopped the screening.

The one-hour program features Dr. Frederick Toben, an Australian and member of the Adelaide Institute, an organization that denies that the Holocaust happened.

“This film is offensive not only to Jews in the world but to any sensible person,” said Grassroots Executive Director John Masters.

The question of airing the film has stirred a “healthy debate” at the community TV station.

In the film, Toben says “alleged” concentration camp gas chambers were used to save lives by disinfecting prisoners and that the Holocaust was a fabrication.

According to the Adelaide Institute website, Toben has faced litigation and is under a federal gag order in Australia.

In the past, Campbell has aired controversial films on Grassroots TV trying to debunk facts about the Sept. 11 attack. He said he has not run into this problem before.

Begun in 1971, Grassroots airs community programs twice for free and charges for additional screenings or special placement, Masters said.

Source: www.vaildaily.com

Date: October 8, 2007

By Charles Agar

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