"No citizen in a free society should go to jail for his opinions, even opinions as vile as David Ahenakew's.

A former native leader, Mr. Ahenakew told a reporter in 2002 that Jews were a 'disease' and praised Hitler for deciding they should be 'fried' in the Holocaust. He is now on trial in Saskatoon on charges of inciting hatred. Whether he is guilty or not is for the court to decide. But the law he is accused of breaking is wrong in the first place.

The dangers of such a law are obvious. It could easily be used to silence those who dissent noisily or obnoxiously from majority opinion, a basic right in any country that values open debate. If the hate law can be used against cranks like Mr. Ahenakew, why not against a university professor who says that the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack deserved to be killed?"

Get the Story:
Editorial: The hate law's flaw (The Globe and Mail 4/7)

Related Stories:
Native leader's hate crimes trial a raucous affair (4/6)
Native leader on trial for anti-Semitic remarks (4/5)
Native leader's hate crimes trial delayed again (11/01)
First Nation leaders return from trip to Israel (08/18)
First Nation leaders head to Israel to build relations (08/10)
Aboriginal leader's hate crimes case delayed again (07/01)
Jewish groups oppose Native leader's nomination (01/28)
Native leader pleads not guilty to hate crime (10/02)
Native leader's hate crimes case postponed again (08/28)
Report: Native leader has long held racist views (08/15)
Hate crimes case against Native leader continues (07/29)
Native leader charged with hate crime for remarks (06/12)
Hate crimes charges mulled against tribal leader (03/26)
Native and Jewish leaders meet in Canada (01/09)
A different kind of debate on race (12/19)
Native Trent Lott faces criminal probe (12/18)
Apology sought for Hitler remarks (12/17)
First Nations upset with Hitler remark (12/16)