Lawyer Convicted for Revisionism in France

Eric Delcroix, a 52 year old defense lawyer, was convicted in Paris on October 22, 1996 for “contesting crimes against humanity.” For publishing his book, La police de la pensee contre le revisionisme (The Thought Police Against Revisionism), Delcroix was fined 20,000F, 1,500F to each of the 5 associations for their attorney fees and 600F for lawsuit fees; no damages, except the symbolic Franc for each association. Total: 28,305F (5,300 US $).

Delcroix is known in France for being the defense lawyer for Dr. Robert Faurisson. Delcroix was prosecuted under the infamous Fabius-Gayssot law. The Tribunal accepted the charge of “contestation de crime contre l'humanité” but made it quite clear that it was not so much because of his book but because Delcroix claimed he was a revisionist that he had to get such a sentence.

When asked by a journalist of Radio-France how he felt about that decision, Maître Delcroix answered:

“Je pense que c'est un petit peu une Legion d'honneur, et une vraie, parce que etre victime d'un delit d'opinion au regard de ce que l'on pense, cela me parait etre effectivement quelque chose d'eminemment honorable. Et je suis fier de moi; je suis moins fier de ma justice” (I consider it is a little bit like a Legion d'honneur, but a true one, because when one is a victim for one's beliefs, for something he thinks, it seems to me that actually such a conviction is eminently honourable. And I am proud of myself; I am less proud of my law)

Since the court of appeals always renders aggravated sentences, it is highly probable that Delcroix will not lodge an appeal.

Adapted from The Times , Oct 23, 1996