[Images added by this website] Browne does not consider it appropriate to speak in the same place, the adviser said. London, November 20, 2007   Oxford Union Faces Boycott Over Irving By KATE SCHUMAN LONDON (AP) -- The British defense secretary and at least three other lawmakers canceled appearances at Oxford University's debating society because of a speaking invitation made to David Irving, a historian once jailed in Austria for denying the Holocaust. Defense Secretary Des Browne (right) and the other officials decided not to speak at the Oxford Union when they learned Irving and Nick Griffin, head of the far-right British National Party, were invited to a forum on free speech. The Free Speech Forum is planned for Nov. 26. Neither Browne nor the other members of Parliament were [sic. was] invited to attend that event, but were scheduled to speak before the Oxford Union on other days. An adviser to Browne, who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity in line with government policy, said the defense chief believes the debating society has the right to invite Irving and Griffin. But Browne does not consider it appropriate to speak in the same place, the adviser said. The debating society's president, Luke Tryl, wrote a letter to members saying he invited the men to talk about the limits of free speech -- not to expound their views. "Stopping them from speaking only allows them to become free speech martyrs ... groups like BNP do well if they look like they're being censored," he wrote. Tryl did not respond to an e-mail and several telephone inquiries made by The Associated Press on Monday. Denis MacShane, a Labour Party lawmaker (left), withdrew from a speaking engagement at the union last week. "Inviting two notorious Jew-haters ... to the most prestigious debating student forum in the world will validate today's anti-Semitism which is a poisonous ideology emanating from the extreme right as well as the Israel-hating left and Islamist ideologues," MacShane said in an e-mailed statement. Irving was arrested by Austria two years ago on charges stemming from two speeches he gave there in 1989 at which he allegedly disputing that the Nazis purposely murdered 6 million Jews. Denying the Holocaust is a crime in Austria, which was occupied by Nazi Germany [Website comment: ... and which provided most of the concentration camp commandants as well as Adolf Eichmann, Odilo Globocnik, and Hermann Höfle, architects of the mass murders atrocities].. Irving, who has refused to use the term Holocaust, was convicted in February 2006 and sentenced to three years in prison. He served 13 months and was released on probation. Griffin's party campaigns on a fiercely anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim platform. Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press Suggestion: Does the Oxford Union need your support? Jewish Telegraph Agency: Breaking News Irving causes Oxford forum collapse British legislators canceled speeches at Oxford University after David Irving was invited to speak there. IRVING, a Briton convicted of Holocaust denial in Austria last year [Website comment: no he wasn't] is scheduled to speak Nov. 26 at the renowned Oxford Union debating society's Free Speech Forum. Also causing controversy is the scheduled speech of Nick Griffin, head of the extreme-right British National Party, which has been accused of encouraging racism. Defense Secretary Des Browne and other British officials were scheduled to speak on other days. Brown and three Parliament members have canceled their speaking engagements. Denis MacShane, a Labor Party lawmaker, canceled his speaking engagement at the union last week. "Inviting two notorious Jew-haters ... to the most prestigious debating student forum in the world will validate today's anti-Semitism which is a poisonous ideology emanating from the extreme right as well as the Israel-hating left and Islamist ideologues," MacShane said in an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press. "The British National Party mixes anti-Semitism and Islamaphobia in equal measure. David Irving is the Holocaust Denier-in-Chief." Irving, an amateur historian, presented two speeches in Austria in 1989 during which he questioned the existence of Nazi gas chambers. Holocaust denial is a crime in Austria. Irving was jailed in Austria last February, then had his sentence reduced from three years to 13 months. He repeatedly has questioned established facts about the Holocaust since his release and return to Britain.   David Irving issues a warning letter to Denis McShane: I shall without further notice issue a Claim in Defamation against yourself Flashback: When Lord Triesman threatened a globa boycott of Oxford University if Mr Irving spoke Socialist Worker reports Oxford students plan reponse to Mr Irving's O.U. debut - who's paying, now that Moscow won't? And he denies he's coming anyway | Scottish Student newspaper comments on Oxford Union invitation Losing battle - Should David Irving be a guest of the Oxford Union? asks The Times Features Editor Daniel Finkelstein (I wonder how he got that job), and may be surprised at the answers his blog gets More outrage from usual suspects: Irving isn't a denier, says Oxford paper Cherwell Cherwell (Oxford University) on the invitations uproar | Confronted with spook that David Irving may speak at Oxford Union, National Union of Students says, "We'll prevent it." | Outrage at STL Jewish Light What is going on here? Has the statute of limitations expired on open and overt anti-Semitism on college campuses The Guardian's outrage: BNP leader Nick Griffin and David Irving invited to address Oxford Union, the famous speaking forum David Irving, A Radical's Diary: Is he speaking at Oxford or not?  David Irving issues a warning letter: "I shall without further notice issue a Claim in Defamation" What David Irving really thinks about the Holocaust - Hitler's apologist Why Irving regretted his days in court A Radical's Diary: The Jewish Chronicle is becoming Irving-obsessed

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