Budapest judge Viktor Vadasz of the Pest Central District Court ruled today in favor of Dr Efraim Zuroff, Holocaust historian and director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Israel office, in a case that foreign observers have taken to be emblamatic for the sometimes topsy-turvy world of East European politics: glorification of Nazi war criminals amidst vilification of those who would want them brought to justice and the truth about local Holocaust history told and taught.
The judge praised Dr Zuroff for going through Hungary’s prosecution authorities over years and only resorting to media coverage when it was obvious that in the absence of public pressure prosecutors seemed to lack the political and moral will to proceed. He concluded that Dr Zuroff brought the case to the attention of the media as part of an effort to pursue justice in the country’s court system rather than a personalized attempt to embarrass an individual.
Court rules for Dr Zuroff and praises his professionalism. Verdict here
AP, HP, HVG, JP, JTA
Exclusive end-of-trial video by DefendingHistory.com
Alternative URL for video; Additional clip by DefendingHistory.com;
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FARCICAL TRIAL OF THE HOLOCAUST HISTORIAN IS FOLLOWED TWO DAYS LATER, ON MAY 5, BY THE OPENING OF DEMOCRATIC HUNGARY’S FIRST WAR CRIMES TRIAL
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16 Dec 2010; 20 Jan 2011; 28 April 2011; 3 May 2011; 5 May 2011