Again, I fail to see how conviction is by itself worthy of respect. Surely it is only respectable if the content of the conviction is also respectable.
In other words: if I risk my life for something stupid or wrong or immoral or criminal, but I felt strongly enough about it to risk my life over it, are you obliged to respect my conviction, even though the content of my conviction was not respectable? I think having respect for the notion of conviction itself is utterly stupid. I would rather respect having the calmness and clarity of thought to act without the need for moral zeal.
Point in case: Would we be having this discussion if Sunde went to jail for a strong conviction in believing that a given race is inherently and naturally inferior to his own? I would submit a vote of "not likely", because I doubt very many people would find themselves respecting his conviction, if that were the case.