[JURIST] Luxembourg Justice Minister Luc Frieden [official profile], speaking Friday at a meeting of EU justice ministers, has called for the European Union to institute a ban on the use of Nazi symbols as part of a larger effort to punish hate crimes motivated by racism or xenophobia. Luxembourg holds the Presidency of the EU [official website] through June 2005. The ban on hate crimes has been under consideration since 2001. The Nazi symbols ban has gained momentum in the last month in the wake of this week's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz [JURIST report] and outrage over British Prince Harry's wearing of a swastika armband to a recent costume party [JURIST report]. Reuters has more.

1:22 PM ET – The Luxembourg EU Presidency has issued a press release of Frieden's statement.