Finnish editors fined for pro-Holocaust letter

HELSINKI, Jan 9 (Reuters) A Finnish court fined the editors of two newspapers for incitement to hatred for publishing a letter advocating violence against Jews.

The letter, in response to the conflict in the West Asia, said Jews are an ethnic group against which extreme violence is permissible and desirable, and approved of the Holocaust, the prosecutors' office said yesterday.

Regional daily Uusimaa and national leftist Kansan Uutiset both published the letter in late July.

Janne Makinen, editor of Kansan Uutiset, told Reuters his ''understanding is the fine is on the lower end of the scale.

Otherwise, I cannot comment, as I have not seen the grounds for the judgment.'' The author of the letter, who was unnamed, was also fined, Finnish news agency STT said.

Reuters DKS VP0420