Young neo-Nazi sentenced to read classic literature to avoid jail

The case of young neo-nazi what was condemned by a judge a read the classics of English literature to avoid prison toured the world after the discovery of 70,000 documents associated with far-right terrorism and instructions for making explosives.

“This content is disgusting, to anyone who thinks correctly. Much of this material is linked to the Nazi, fascist and inspirational ideology of Adolf Hitler, ”British judge Timothy Spencer QC told Ben John, a former university student in the city of Leicester, England. amount of more contemporary material advocating far-right material and white supremacism. “

According to local media, the 21-year-old has been accused on several occasions under the Terrorism Act, and had been classified as “terrorist risk” when it came of age. This happened not only after he uploaded materials related to white supremacy, but also after being denounced by his school for writing a letter attacking gays, immigrants and liberals.

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On this occasion, the Leicester police discovered during the search of John’s house that seven of the documents contained instructions on how to make explosive devices and making detonations that could be devastating, something Judge Spencer considered an isolated incident and an “act of teenage madness.”

Additionally, police said John was part of the far right in line (XRW), term used to classify activists who commit criminal activities motivated by a political or cultural vision, such as racism or extreme nationalism.

“You are a single person with few or no true friends,” the magistrate told John, who found him “very likely” to be recruited by others but did not cause any harm.

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The condemnation of the young neo-Nazi

Despite the fact that John was convicted by the jury of a felony punishable by 15 years in prison, Judge Spencer chose to force him to read works by classic English writers like Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy and Charles Dickens.

“Have you read (Charles) Dickens? (Jane) Austen? Start with ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘The Tale of Two Cities’ by Dickens and ‘Twelfth Night’ by William Shakespeare,” the judge said as he delivered the sentence. by virtue of the fact that he considered him to be a young man who “struggled with emotions” but who “was by no means a lost cause”.

To serve his suspended prison sentence, the young man must appear in court every four months to be assessed on his knowledge of literature.

“On January 4, you will tell me what you have read and I will put you to the test and if I think that you are lying to me, you will suffer”, concluded the judge who also made the convict promise that he would not do it again. more. look for far-right material.

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