92), was a case heard by the European Court of Human Rights on punishing statements praising collaborators.
In a judgement handed down 23 September 1998, the court has held by fifteen votes against six that the conviction of applicants for their article in favour of Philippe Pétain was prescribed by law and pursued a legitimate aim, but wasn't necessary in a democratic society and therefore violated Article 10 (freedom of expression).
Besides, the court has ruled that the case "does not belong to the category of clearly established historical facts – such as the Holocaust – whose negation or revision would be removed from the protection of Article 10 by Article 17" (Para.
This ruling has had a direct[citation needed] influence on International treaty law.
The Council of Europe Explanatory Report of the protocol states "European Court of Human Rights has made it clear that the denial or revision of "clearly established historical facts – such as the Holocaust – [...] would be removed from the protection of Article 10 by Article 17" of the ECHR (see in this context the Lehideux and Isorni judgment of 23 September 1998)".