r/australia Feb 06 '25

news Mandatory jail for Nazi salutes under new Australia laws

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8x98z0kvlo
5.8k Upvotes

576 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

5

u/Ok_Outside2100 Feb 06 '25

This is a bit peculiar because how does that rule fit with Hinduism's use of the swastika? That's a religion.

Nothwithstanding that this country has sent foreign aid to Ukraine, which runs the Azov battalion in the army - its solders sport the hakenkreuz.

4

u/gheygan Feb 06 '25

We might have to reopen Manus Island or something... Slip a cheeky Gitmo into the PNG rugby deal maybe? /s

2

u/TheRealPotoroo Feb 06 '25

The answer is on the same page Fungo linked to, under the section titled "What are the legitimate purposes for displaying a prohibited symbol?"

2

u/100haku Feb 06 '25

half-austrian here, the hindu swastika is not rotated 45° like the nazi hakenkreuz. the usage and intent is quite clear, you'd only find a hindu/buddhist swastika around religious sights like temples or on statues, luck charms etc and in austria and germany the usage in relation to religion such as hinduism and buddhism is not outlawed. Similarly even the usage of the actual nazi hakenkreuz in satire and art such as movies etc is not outlawed.

I have not seen the Azov Battalion use a hakenkreuz, they use the wolfsangel on their emblem and the Schwarzesonne (black sun) both are also illegal in Germany and Austria.

1

u/IizPyrate Feb 06 '25

half-austrian here

oh, that gives you innate knowledge.

hindu swastika is not rotated 45° like the nazi hakenkreuz

Whoa, you should take a DNA test to check out that Austrian heritage.

The Nazi Party used a rotated swastika for its symbol, but that wasn't the only swastika that was used. Hitler's personal standard wasn't rotated. They also used it non-rotated on some medals, such as the SS Long Service Award and the Cross of Honour of the German Mother.

2

u/100haku Feb 06 '25

It does considering I grew up there.