Photo -- Dietmar Fischer

21 July 2011 Press Release
Austria

Human Life International Austria director and colleagues face $10,000 fine or jail time for peaceful sidewalk counseling

VIENNA, Austria —A ruling by a judge in Graz, Austria is a case of blatant persecution of pro-lifers, says Human Life International (HLI) Interim President Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carambula.

A report released this week by the Catholic video website Gloria.tv
http://en.gloria.tv/?media=176426
helps explain the “contradictory” and “bizarre” nature of Jude Erik Nauta’s ruling against four pro-life advocates, including Dietmar Fischer, director of HLI Austria. Judge Nauta fined Mr. Fischer an astonishing $10,000 for his pro-life advocacy, and also charged pro-life sidewalk counselors fines between $600 and $1,200 each for what the judge considered to be “stalking” of the Graz-based abortionist, Johannes Hanfstingl.

Judge Nauta’s ruling occurred in early April, and the case is currently under appeal. If the appeal fails, Fischer can face up to three months in jail if he does not pay the fine, and his colleagues also face jail time.

“Dietmar is accused of offering, for free, eleven week old baby models, support flyers for pregnant mothers and rosaries for the pregnant counseling centre in Graz,” said Joannes Bucher, HLI’s regional director for Europe, who is based in Austria. “These pro-life resources were given as support from HLI Austria, but Dietmar himself was never in Graz to counsel women in front of this abortion centre.”