Varg Vikernes, the former vocalist of black metal band Burzum, should probably consider himself lucky that he was freed after being arrested in France under charges that he was organizing a "massacre." However, Vikernes is incensed that the state froze his bank account and took away all of his weapons. He plans on suing to defend his rights.
"The only problem is that we can not afford to sue them, and we see no other solution to this than to ask for help from you," he wrote on his blog. "It pains me much to do so, and I have struggled a lot with myself to make me do this, but I think this is the right thing to do right now. They have done everything they could to make sure we could not afford to sue ... We can not allow them to abuse their power like that and get away with it. This time they did this to us ... and the next time it can be your neighbour's turn. Or your friend's turn. Or someone in your family's turn. Or your turn."
It does seem odd that the French authorities would suspect someone like Vikernes, who's previously been jailed for church burnings, murdering black metal rival Euronymous of the band Mayhem, and for openly preaching the benefits of Nazisim on his blog. It was slightly ironic when he referenced the "First they came..." poem, which places the blame for the rise of the Nazis on the laziness of German intellectuals, when addressing his supporters.
"These days they come first for the Pagan nationalists, and I don't think they will ever come for the Jews, but even if you are not a Pagan and/or a nationalist you might understand that you should speak up for those who are," he wrote. "Before it's too late."
Sadly, his account has already raised near $4,400. The good news is that it's money those people will never see again.
