The Prague Post Online - Mein Kampf publisher cleared

Court criticizes 'profit motive' of issuing Hitler book A publisher prosecuted for bringing out a Czech translation of Mein Kampf is celebrating his acquittal by the Supreme Court. Michal Zitko says that Adolf Hitler's 1925 autobiography and political diatribe should be read by anyone interested in history and politics. However, critics of the legal verdict say that by publishing the book Zitko risked igniting anti-Semitic hatred. Furthermore, they say, Zitko's edition lacks commentary, something essential for such controversial polemics. In an earlier hearing, the Prague City Court said that neo-Nazi groups inspired by Hitler's book are active in this country and a judge gave Zitko a three-year suspended jail sentence. But the Supreme Court cleared Zitko March 10 of his conviction on the charge of supporting a movement that aims to suppress human rights. "There was a lack of intent. It was not proven that he wanted to attract new members to the neo-Nazi movement," said court chairman Eduard Teschler, speaking to the Czech News Agency. However, Teschler criticized Zitko's publication of Mein Kampf in 2000 as immoral, saying that it was motivated by profits.