Name: Czech Publisher Convicted for Distributing Mein Kampf

Date: 1995 - present

Location: Europe

SubjectPolitical/Economic/Social Opinion

MediumLiterature


Artist: Adolf Hitler, Author; Michal Zitko, Publisher

Confronting Bodies: Marie Benesova,Supreme State Attorney for the Czech Republic; Bavarian officials

Date of Action: 2000

Specific Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Description of Artwork: Adolph Hitler's autobiography

Description of Incident: Zitko published a Czech translation of Mein Kampf in 2000. Czech officials criminally prosecuted Zitko for promoting Nazism. The state of Bavaria, which holds the copyright for the book for all countries in the world except for the United Kingdom and the United States, asked Zitko to refrain from distributing the book. Zitko declined.

Results of Incident: The Czech government seized three hundred copies of Mein Kampf. Zitko received a three-year suspended sentence and a fine of two million crowns in 2000. The Czech Supreme Court recently overturned the conviction and Zitko is currently awaiting a new trial.

Source: Central Europe Review

Submitted By: NCAC


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