By CATHY ARONSON
A German public prosecutor is investigating a former Waikato University PhD student who is allegedly a neo-Nazi.
Hans-Joachim Kupka is being investigated by Mannheim public prosecutor Hans-Heiko Klein for suspicion of "incitement to hatred and violence against minority groups" under section 130 of the German Criminal Code.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment.
The investigation comes after six international history experts classified Mr Kupka's writings anti-Semitic, Holocaust denial and racist.
Mr Kupka pulled out of his doctoral studies on "The use of German in New Zealand" at Waikato University last month after an outcry from students and staff.
The university refused to ban Mr Kupka after claims that he had denied the Holocaust in internet statements.
But, despite the new revelations, the university has continued to refuse an independent inquiry into why he was allowed to study and how complaints were dealt with.
University spokesman Warwick Pitts said vice-chancellor Professor Bryan Gould had not changed his position, which was based on the opinions of the Human Rights Commission and the Race Relations Conciliator, Dr Rajen Prasad, that Mr Kupka's internet writing did not breach the Human Rights Act.
But last month Dr Prasad suggested that an independent inquiry should be held.
He said he was "concerned at the feeling expressed to me that the university is acting in an anti-Semitic manner by disregarding the concerns of the Jewish academics on its staff."
Mr Kupka is believed to be in Australia and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
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