Banning Nazi Symbols a Blow to Free Speech?

A ban on the use of Nazi terminology and symbols would deal a blow to free speech, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel argued Wednesday. The association is calling on the Knesset’s Constitution Committee to nix the proposed ban.

Any use of Nazi imagery to incite hate or racism is already forbidden by existing laws, the group noted.

The ban would include any use of Nazi symbols outside the realms of “education, documentation, scientific work or historic reporting.” In the past, protesters for various causes have caused outrage by wearing yellow stars similar to those Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust.