Argentina condemned his remarks as ‘deeply offensive to Argentine society, the Jewish people and humanity.’
A Roman Catholic bishop who caused an international uproar by denying the scale of the Holocaust was bound for London today after Argentina ordered him to leave.
Bishop Richard Williamson was spotted at Buenos Aires International Airport, just days after the government threatened to expel him over his controversial remarks.
Holocaust DeniersDenying the Holocaust or the scale of the Holocaust in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary is so idiotic that it must be considered a deliberate hate crime.Most holocaust deniers are anti-SemitistsBishop Williamson, who headed a seminary near Buenos Aires until earlier this month, said he believed that no more than 300,000 Jews died in Germany’s Nazi concentration camps, rather than the 6 million figure that is widely accepted.
Wearing dark sunglasses, a baseball cap and an overcoat, Williamson was seen in Argentina’s main international airport as he entered the boarding area.
He did not respond to media questions.
On Sunday, priest Miguel Faure of the same religious order said he believed Williamson would travel back to England.
Christian Bouchacourt, the head of the Latin American chapter of the Catholic Society Saint Pius X, confirmed Williamson was leaving Argentina but declined to specify his destination, saying ‘we want a little tranquillity.’
The Argentine government last week gave the bishop 10 days to leave the country or be expelled.
The government cited irregularities in his immigration application and condemned his remarks as ‘deeply offensive to Argentine society, the Jewish people and humanity.’
Argentina is home to one of the world’s largest Jewish communities outside of Israel.
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