German law to ban neo-Nazi demonstrations goes into force

German President Horst Koehler signed into law on Thursday a bill to ban demonstrations by neo-Nazis at important memorial sites.

Bundestag and Bundesrat, the two chambers of the German parliament, have both passed the legislation after the ultra-rightparty NPD announced that it intended to hold a neo-Nazi-styled parade through the downtown Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on May 8.

Under the new law, demonstrations at memorial places of "outstanding, transregional significance" will be banned, if victims of Nazi crimes feel hurt.

Persons who violate the new assembling law can face up to three years in prison or a certain amount of fines.

Source: Xinhua