Why forbid negationism?

Germany, currently in charge of EU's revolving presidency, has announced the publication of a text aimed at forbidding and condemning racism and xenophobia. The daily doubts the efficiency of a law which would in part serve to fight negation of the Holocaust. "One may well doubt whether an interdiction dictated by a law is the best way to deal with this. On one hand it will contribute to the raising of complex problems related to initiatives intended to regulate dissident offence whilst suggesting on the other hand that public authorities are responsible for writing history. ... Mendacity is always reprehensible, all the more so when defending ulterior interests. But truth cannot necessarily be conquered by converting it into a crime. In certain cases this could even threaten freedom and harm truth."

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