German lawmakers call for EU ban on Nazi symbols after Prince Harry display News
German lawmakers call for EU ban on Nazi symbols after Prince Harry display

[JURIST] German lawmakers this weekend proposed that EU justice ministers consider at their next meeting a Europe-wide ban on display of Nazi insignia. The call came in response to outrage [AP report; Anti-Defamation League press release] after Britain's Prince Harry [official website] wore a Nazi swastika [Wikipedia article] armband to a costume party [Sun photo] last week. Silvana Koch-Merin [official website in German], head of Germany's Free Democrats in the European Parliament, stated, "All of Europe has suffered in the past because of the crimes of the Nazis, therefore it would be logical for Nazi symbols to be banned all over Europe…." Similar sentiments were expressed by other German politicians. While Germany abides by a 1945 law banning Nazi symbols nation-wide, an all-EU ban might prove difficult to pass, as many countries allow such displays under the protection of free speech principles. Harry has apologized for his action. From Germany, Deutsche Welle has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.