A Slovak, age 26, was expelled from the Czech Republic for promoting extremism during a neo-Nazi rally sponsored by the Workers’ Party in Brno in southern Moravia on May 1. The Brno city court ruled to expel the Slovak on May 4 for wearing clothes promoting Fascism and neo-Nazism, the court’s spokesperson, Gabriela Stočková, told the ČTK newswire.
The court’s verdict stated that the young man had symbols of the Slovak Fascist state on his belt buckle as well as similar insignia on his cap and said that by displaying these symbols he had shown sympathy for a government that was aimed at oppressing human rights and freedom. His clothing was confiscated by the Czech authorities. Neither the defendant nor the prosecutor appealed the verdict.
The Slovak citizen was one of 15 persons detained for promoting extremism and causing disturbances at event. Thirteen were charged with being proponents of extremism and two were detained for attacking a police officer. A German national who gave a speech at the rally is being investigated for promoting extremism and will likely face prosecution.
Experts are now reviewing the meaning of a banner stating “Europe, rise up!” as it is believed it may mimic a phrase “Germany, rise up!” that was used as a slogan for the parole of Nazis after World War II.
About 400 neo-Nazis had gathered in downtown Brno on May 1and were faced-off from their march by about 1,000 counter-demonstrators. Czech police were able to prevent a confrontation between the two groups but the effort involved about 700 police officers, more than 200 police cars and two helicopters at a cost of several million Czech crowns.
