I could not help myself from passing on to you to the latest row on the Western European battle front of "Freedom of  Expression".   How a schizophrenic Europe justifies upholding cartoons offensive to other cultures while dealing with its hyper sensitivity to World War II jibes that will land you straight in jail.  Typical of western double standards, the hypocrisy is simultaneously sickening and hilarious.  

Maybe this is one case where, as the comedian Steve Martin suggested . . . "walk like an Egyptian" is the preferred mode of pedestrian mobility if you plan to attend the upcoming  World Cup .

Ishinan 
 

From NICK PARKER
Chief Foreign Correspondent, in Nuremberg, Germany 

GERMAN cops will use sweeping powers to collar England fans doing Basil Fawlty-style Hitler impressions at the World Cup. 

Yobs will be instantly banged up for TWO WEEKS if they goose-step like John Cleese * in his most famous Fawlty Towers scene. 

And hard core louts who give Nazi salutes — like the one jokingly made by Michael Barrymore in Celebrity Big Brother — could be hauled before a judge within 24 hours. 

If convicted of inciting hatred they will face jail terms of up to THREE YEARS. 

Wearing joke German helmets or any offensive insignia will also result in a stretch behind bars. 

The crackdown was revealed by police in Nuremberg, where England will play Trinidad and Tobago in a first-round World Cup match on June 15. 

The city is particularly sensitive to World War II jibes. 

Its gleaming World Cup stadium stands in the shadow of the parade ground used for Hitler’s notorious Nazi rallies in the 1930s. 
 
 

The city was carpet-bombed by the Allies during the war. 

Cops there say Nazi taunts are NOT funny and will NOT be tolerated. 

Police chief Gerhard Hauptmannl, a 59-year-old former judge and Mafia crimebuster, said yesterday: 

“We will come down hard on people who use insulting behaviour or make trouble. We are very sensitive about our history. 

England football fans should be aware that the Nazi salute and provocative behaviour like goose-stepping in public will be punished. We will offer the warmest welcome to true football fans. But anyone glorifying extremism here risks arrest. 

We are prepared to use our police powers to hold fans for up to two weeks without charge if we feel they are a threat to public safety and order. 

This used to be the city of the Nazi rallies but is now famous as the city of human rights. We do not live in the past.”

Around 10,000 England fans will have tickets for the match at the refurbished 44,000-seat Franken Stadium on the outskirts of the rebuilt Bavarian city. 

But a similar number of Three Lions followers are expected to travel without tickets — including our nation’s notorious hooligan element. 

The city’s police are beefing up CCTV surveillance with a £1.1million space-age computerised control centre. 
 

It has a bank of high-definition flat screen monitors linked to cameras that can zoom in on a single face. 

Close-up pictures can then be transmitted to snatch squads who will grab ringleaders in seconds. 

A new cell block has been built at Nuremberg’s police HQ, with space for at least 65 prisoners. 

Another 230 cells will be available in the area. 

Even the stadium has its own lock-up block ready for hooligans and drunks. 

More than 3,000 cops will be on red alert, including a rapid reaction force supported by highly-trained riot teams, helicopters, water cannon and dogs. 

Uniformed British bobbies will also patrol grounds where England play. 

Police station jailer Sergeant Horst Schwarz showed The Sun one of 14 purpose-built steel cages installed in the bowels of the nick. 
 
 
 
 

* The Fawlty Towers story…
 
Fawlty Towers is one of the best-known, and most-loved, series from the halcyon days of British comedy—the 1970s.

It starred John Cleese as irascible Torquay hotel owner Basil Fawlty, and Prunella Scales as his domineering wife Sybil—his “little nest of vipers”. Connie Booth played Polly the dependable maid and general assistant, and last but certainly not least, little Manuel superbly played by Andrew Sachs—the tyrannized waiter from Barcelona, dogsbody and subject of frequent physical attacks by the demented Basil! Terry the Chef, played by Brian Hall, was employed for the second series.

The other regular guests were the slightly senile Major Gowen (retired), and the hard of hearing old dears Miss Tibbs & Miss Gatsby.