Neo-Nazis hijack pro-tolerance campaign
Published 11 July, 2008, 04:31
Campaigners in the Czech Republic are using the internet to combat the rise in racism in the country. But neo-Nazi groups are finding crafty ways of spreading their ideas.
When the Czech charity 'People in Need'launched a campaign against neo-Nazism, it was in for a surprise.
Its website was parodied by right-wing extremists in a counter-attack.
The People in Need website criticises neo-Nazi activities and pokes fun at their behaviour. “Who wants a neo-Nazi?” their slogan says.
The extremists’ website is a replica but carrying quite a different message: “Who wants an immigrant next door?” It's attacking people from foreign backgrounds and promoting xenophobic intolerance.
People in Need say this war of words highlights a deep and dangerous nationalist sentiment in the Czech Republic.
“They simply used our campaign and the main aim we see is on promoting their issues and trying to really provoke the public,” believes activist Eva Latalova.
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