Arrest in the Czech Republic and dropping of the charges
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Wikinews Shorts: April 27, 2009
On April 24, 2009, Duke, who had arrived in the
Czech Republic on invitation by a Czech
neo-Nazi Group known as
Národnà Odpor ("National Resistance") to deliver three lectures in
Prague and
Brno to promote the translation of his book
My Awakening into the Czech language.
[157] He was arrested on suspicion of "denying or approving of the Nazi genocide and other Nazi crimes" and "promotion of movements seeking suppression of human rights," which are crimes in the Czech Republic punishable by up to three years' imprisonment. At the time of his arrest, Duke was reportedly guarded by members of the
Národnà Odpor.
[158][159]
The Czech police accused Duke of promoting movements suppressing human rights.
[160][161][162] The police released him early on April 25, 2009, on condition that he leave the country by midnight that same day.
[163][164]
Duke's first lecture had been scheduled at
Charles University in Prague, but it was canceled after university officials learned that neo-Nazis were planning to attend.
[165] Some Czech politicians, including Interior Minister
Ivan Langer and Human Rights and Minorities Minister
Michael Kocáb, had previously expressed opposition to Duke's being allowed into the country.
[158]
In September 2009, the office of the District Prosecutor for Prague dropped all charges, explaining that there was no evidence that David Duke had committed any crime.
[166]
Expulsion from Italy, 2013
An Italian court ruled to expel Duke from Italy, reported Reuters in December 2013.
[167] The 63-year-old Duke was living in a mountain village in Italy. Although Duke had been issued a visa to live in Malta and write,
Italian police later found that Switzerland had issued a residence ban against Duke throughout a group of 26 countries including Italy. Duke's attorney said he had not decided, as of December 5, 2013 whether or not to appeal the decision.
[167].