LOS ANGELES — Supporters of German Holocaust-denier Ernst Zundel protested Friday outside the Canadian consulate, demanding his release from a Toronto jail.

Sponsored by an organization called the Institute for Historical Review, demonstrators held signs with Zundel's picture and others that read Shame on Canada. Flanked by Zundel's wife, organization director Mark Weber handed over a letter to a consulate representative, asking for his release.

"The case is an outrage," Weber said.

"He is being held on the pretext of being a threat to national security."

Zundel, who has been in a Toronto jail facing deportation to Germany, lived in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., until he was deported back to Canada in 2003 for alleged immigration violations. He remains in custody while the deportation case against him continues.

Zundel, 65, faces prosecution in Germany for his neo-Nazi and Holocaust-denying activities. Since the late 1970s he has operated Samisdat Publishing, one of the leading distributors of Nazi propaganda and since 1995 been a key content-provider for a website dedicated to Holocaust denial, the Anti-Defamation League has said.

During the protest, Zundel's supporters were met by about 40 backers of the Jewish Defense League. Waving Israeli flags and chanting "God bless Canada," both sides shouted at one another on issues including free speech, the Middle East conflict and the Holocaust.

There were no immediate reports of any arrests, police said.

"We're out here to support the Canadians and let the white supremacists know they can't come to Los Angeles and hold a protest without us being here," said Brett Stone, a JDL spokesman.

"This is the city of Angels, not a city of hate."

Wendy Campbell, who stood with about two-dozen Zundel supporters, said those who came out to protest were from different walks of life who feel Zundel has been given a raw deal.

"It's a matter of trumped-up charges," Campbell said.

"He's simply a political prisoner who is in jail for speaking his mind."

Zundel has challenged the constitutional validity of the security certificate review process under which he is charged. The government filed court papers last year saying Zundel was a threat to engage in terrorism or other violence and should be deported.

The Canadian security certificate law, passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, allows the government to hold terrorism suspects based on secret information.

Born in Germany in 1939, Zundel emigrated to Canada in 1958 and lived in Toronto and Montreal until 2001. Canadian officials rejected his attempts to obtain Canadian citizenship in 1966 and 1994.