Holocaust-denying professor defiant

ROME, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A professor at a Roman university who argues there is no proof the Nazis killed Jews in gas chambers said Thursday he is a victim of "Zionist groups."

Antonio Caracciolo, a researcher on philosophy of law at Sapienza University, said he has a right to freedom of speech, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. He said the 10 students in his course on Carl Schmitt, a pro-Nazi philosopher, learn "to think for themselves."

''I'm in an iron-clad position," Caracciolo said.. "I am a researcher and I'm entitled to conduct research."

When the newspaper La Repubblica published excerpts from Caracciolo's blog, Gianni Alemanno, the mayor of Rome, and leaders in the Jewish community called for him to be suspended or dismissed.

''No one seriously believes any more that 6 million Jews died,'' Caracciolo said in one post.

After the calls for his job, Caracciolo blamed "Zionist groups" and said Jews are "exploiting the guilt they think the whole world owes them."