German police say they will use sweeping powers to arrest England fans doing Basil Fawlty-style Hitler impressions or giving Nazi salutes at the World Cup soccer match coming up in Nuremburg. Offenders can be held for 2 weeks without trial and may be jailed for up to 3 years.
An obviously very confused police chief Gerhard Hauptmann, said recently:
"We will come down hard on people who use insulting behaviour or make trouble. We are very sensitive about our history. England football fans should be aware that the Nazi salute and provocative behaviour like goose-stepping in public will be punished. We will offer the warmest welcome to true football fans. But anyone glorifying extremism here risks arrest. We are prepared to use our police powers to hold fans for up to two weeks without charge if we feel they are a threat to public safety and order. This used to be the city of the Nazi rallies but is now famous as the city of human rights. We do not live in the past."
The German conception of "human rights" has obviously changed little since Hitler. The right to make political jokes is clearly NOT included. The Muslims protesting against the Mohammed cartoons would understand and agree with Herr Hauptmann.
