Estonian seeks to have guilty verdict for online anti-Semitism overturned

An Estonian who was convicted by a Tallinn court of inciting hatred after he made anti-Semitic statements on the Internet said Saturday he will try to have the verdict overturned.

Olev Hannula, a 23-year-old student, was Friday found guilty of inciting social hatred, and fined 3,000 kroons (192 euros) after he used the phrase "Burn the Jews" in online chat rooms.

Hannula said the phrase was "in common usage", and that he was seeking donations to be able to hire a lawyer and have his case reviewed.

"All citizens who still believe in freedom of speech and wish to contribute to this are asked to pay a donation," the university student said in a statement.

Hannula said "remarks made in Internet chat rooms with friends" should not be regulated by the state.

Hannula’s case was the first brought before an Estonian court about anti-Semitic remarks on the Internet.

Judge Anne Ennok said Hannulas phrase "Burn the Jews" was "a call to hatred and violence aimed at specific people."

Hannula wrote his comment in response to an Internet news portal article headlined "Israel: Europeans are anti-Semitic."
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