Canadian tourist arrested after giving Nazi salute before German parliament

[Sol Invictus]

BERLIN - European media reports say a Canadian tourist has been arrested in Berlin after making a Nazi salute in front of Germany's parliament.

Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reports a 30-year-old man from Quebec was standing on the steps of the Reichstag with his right arm raised in Hitler's infamous salute as his girlfriend photographed him.

The newspaper says police arrived within seconds, handcuffed the man and took the memory card of the camera.

The Canadian tourist risks being formally charged with making a forbidden gesture, which could result in him being jailed for up to six months.

But the Telegraph newspaper reports the man was freed after several hours in police custody after paying bail.

The report says it is understood he will be let off with a fine and a warning.

Displaying any gestures or symbols of the old Nazi regime is considered a serious crime in modern-day Germany.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/canadian-to...pphu-post-form

[Aemma]

Huh, pretty damn extreme for this to have happened really. People need to lighten the hell up a bit.

[Wyn]

a 30-year-old man from Quebec was standing on the steps of the Reichstag with his right arm raised in Hitler's infamous salute as his girlfriend photographed him.

As one does...

The newspaper says police arrived within seconds, handcuffed the man and took the memory card of the camera.

What the hell? Is it Nazi Germany over there or something?!

[Grumpy Cat]

Now the German antifa is going to post on their site that all Canadians are Nazis. If they haven't, already.

[Graham]

Don't mention the war!

[Eldritch]

Sieg heiling in Germany, even as a joke, will get you in big trouble immediately -- as this foolish person found out the hard way.

All Finnish ice hockey players, rock bands, etc. on their way to Germany get this underlined to them by their managers, with the understanding that failure to follow the rule is synonymous with the immediate expiration of their contracts.

[antonio]

I cannot describe as healthy to be ruled by a country with such complexes about their own past to the point of violating freedom of speech of foreign citizens. No wonder Europe is going to the trashcan of history at light speed.

[Ibericus]

Ridiculous. Talk about a democracy and freedom. But communist symbology is not banned even though communism has killed and opressed far more people.

[Aemma]

Sieg heiling in Germany, even as a joke, will get you in big trouble immediately -- as this foolish person found out the hard way.

All Finnish ice hockey players, rock bands, etc. on their way to Germany get this underlined to them by their managers, with the understanding that failure to follow the rule is synonymous with the immediate expiration of their contracts.

Really? Wow, insane.

I guess it's somewhat akin to not joking around about having a bomb on you when in an airport. But I stress only somewhat akin mind you.

As I said, Germany has got to lighten up and we, the rest of the world, have to allow them do so though. Sad.

[Loddfafner]

Good thing no one was around when I stood at a certain podium at a "soccer stadium" in the outskirts of Nurnberg.