German Jews Attack Vegetarian Ad Campaign
<B><i>what a bunch of sick fuckers</I></B>
BERLIN (Reuters) - An animal rights group said on Wednesday it would go ahead with a controversial advertising campaign that likens the slaughter of animals to the murder of Jews under the Nazis despite threats of a legal challenge.
Paul Spiegel, president of the Central Council of Jews, said he would ask prosecutors to raise charges of "inciting racial hatred" against vegetarian group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for the advertisements called "Holocaust on a plate."
PETA campaign coordinator Matt Prescott said he was aware of the council's views, but added: "We are not willing to end the campaign." He said he himself was Jewish.
The posters, due to be displayed in Stuttgart from Thursday and in 11 European cities at later dates, show pictures of battery hens packed into cages next to historic pictures of emaciated Jewish inmates in Nazi concentration camp bunk beds.
Stuttgart prosecutor Eckhard Maak was quoted Wednesday as saying PETA should think twice because German law foresaw fines or up to five years in prison for anyone found guilty of belittling or denying the Holocaust.
Maak said if the campaign went ahead "then you can expect the police won't shut their eyes," according to an advance copy of an interview due to be published in Thursday's Berliner Zeitung newspaper.
Spiegel earlier told the newspaper the Jewish council would press charges if the campaign was launched. He has urged PETA to drop the "disgusting" adverts, saying they were "a violation of human dignity, especially of the Holocaust victims."
PETA officials say the posters are designed to raise public awareness of what they call the maltreatment of animals before they are slaughtered.
<B><i>what a bunch of sick fuckers</I></B>
BERLIN (Reuters) - An animal rights group said on Wednesday it would go ahead with a controversial advertising campaign that likens the slaughter of animals to the murder of Jews under the Nazis despite threats of a legal challenge.
Paul Spiegel, president of the Central Council of Jews, said he would ask prosecutors to raise charges of "inciting racial hatred" against vegetarian group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for the advertisements called "Holocaust on a plate."
PETA campaign coordinator Matt Prescott said he was aware of the council's views, but added: "We are not willing to end the campaign." He said he himself was Jewish.
The posters, due to be displayed in Stuttgart from Thursday and in 11 European cities at later dates, show pictures of battery hens packed into cages next to historic pictures of emaciated Jewish inmates in Nazi concentration camp bunk beds.
Stuttgart prosecutor Eckhard Maak was quoted Wednesday as saying PETA should think twice because German law foresaw fines or up to five years in prison for anyone found guilty of belittling or denying the Holocaust.
Maak said if the campaign went ahead "then you can expect the police won't shut their eyes," according to an advance copy of an interview due to be published in Thursday's Berliner Zeitung newspaper.
Spiegel earlier told the newspaper the Jewish council would press charges if the campaign was launched. He has urged PETA to drop the "disgusting" adverts, saying they were "a violation of human dignity, especially of the Holocaust victims."
PETA officials say the posters are designed to raise public awareness of what they call the maltreatment of animals before they are slaughtered.