A man who describes himself as a Nazi has been sentenced to prison in Australia for performing a banned Nazi salute. Australia outlawed the Nazi salute in October 2023.
Jacob Hersant, 25, was convicted of making the salute to a group of people and media cameras outside a Victorian courtroom just days after the ban went into effect.
The magistrate on the case said Hersant also praised Adolf Hitler, adding that he declared “Australia is for the white man.”
The magistrate noted that Hersant is a member of a white supremacy group called “The National Socialist Network.” They described his actions as “clearly racist and seek[ing] to promote white supremacy in Australia.”
Hersant was sentenced to one month in prison on Friday, Nov. 8.
However, Hersant’s lawyer, Tim Smartt, filed an appeal, and Hersant was released on bail while the appeal process is underway in court.
The defense team argued that the salute constitutes political speech, which is protected under Australia’s constitution.
“I don’t show any remorse for giving a political gesture, no,” Hersant said outside the courtroom. “The fact that I’ve been sentenced to a month in prison, for a political gesture, is just farcical really. These laws are insane, they’re emotional, they’re anti-white, and they should be ruled invalid. That’s what we’re going to be appealing on.”
Intelligence officials have warned that more Australians are being drawn to neo-Nazi ideologies as extremist groups step up their recruitment efforts.
