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ARMENIAN MANEUVER: LET HISTORIANS BE EXEMPTED
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 9 2006
The Armenian Diaspora continues to take action in an effort to prevent
opposition to the draft law pending at the French parliament that
would penalize denial of the alleged Armenian genocide.
In an attempt to convince those who oppose the draft that it will
restrict the academic freedoms of historians, Armenians proposed
exempting researchers and historians from the scope of the draft law.
To this end, a leading figure from the ruling People's Majority Unity
Party French Armenian, Patrick Devedjian, proposed an amendment to
the draft. The single-sentenced proposal reads "These regulations do
not apply to academic and scientific researches and studies."
The Committee on Defending the Armenian Cause, an important player
behind the draft bill, called on the parliamentarians to approve the
draft for the sake of "the dignity of humanity," and in a manner that
goes beyond the routine discussions of historians.
The draft submitted by the opposition Socialist Party stipulates those
who deny the alleged Armenian genocide be imprisoned up to five years
and fined 45,000 euros.
In a statement annexed to the amendment proposal, Devedjian,
in reference to Turkey, noted that the bill should prevent any
provocations and political demonstrations organized by a foreign
country. With the proposal, Devedjian seeks to prevent those
conducting historical research from prosecution and punishment under
the draft law.
This unexpected attempt by the Armenians, who have consistently
criticized historians critical of the genocide allegations, seeks to
prevent opposition from French historians.
Not long before, leading French historians had issued a declaration
demanding the abolition of laws encompassing historical subjects,
including the law that recognizes the alleged Armenian genocide.
The same historians are expected to issue another declaration in the
days ahead. French President Jacques Chirac also stated his opposition
to the draft.
The Armenian Diaspora, which now seeks exemption for historians,
had previously ensured the conviction of the renowned historian
Bernard Lewis simply because he did not fully reflect "the Armenian
genocide" in an article. Likewise, following the application of
Armenian associations, the Paris Court convicted Quid Encyclopedia
on the grounds that it mentioned Turkey's view with regard to the
1915 incidents.
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 9 2006
The Armenian Diaspora continues to take action in an effort to prevent
opposition to the draft law pending at the French parliament that
would penalize denial of the alleged Armenian genocide.
In an attempt to convince those who oppose the draft that it will
restrict the academic freedoms of historians, Armenians proposed
exempting researchers and historians from the scope of the draft law.
To this end, a leading figure from the ruling People's Majority Unity
Party French Armenian, Patrick Devedjian, proposed an amendment to
the draft. The single-sentenced proposal reads "These regulations do
not apply to academic and scientific researches and studies."
The Committee on Defending the Armenian Cause, an important player
behind the draft bill, called on the parliamentarians to approve the
draft for the sake of "the dignity of humanity," and in a manner that
goes beyond the routine discussions of historians.
The draft submitted by the opposition Socialist Party stipulates those
who deny the alleged Armenian genocide be imprisoned up to five years
and fined 45,000 euros.
In a statement annexed to the amendment proposal, Devedjian,
in reference to Turkey, noted that the bill should prevent any
provocations and political demonstrations organized by a foreign
country. With the proposal, Devedjian seeks to prevent those
conducting historical research from prosecution and punishment under
the draft law.
This unexpected attempt by the Armenians, who have consistently
criticized historians critical of the genocide allegations, seeks to
prevent opposition from French historians.
Not long before, leading French historians had issued a declaration
demanding the abolition of laws encompassing historical subjects,
including the law that recognizes the alleged Armenian genocide.
The same historians are expected to issue another declaration in the
days ahead. French President Jacques Chirac also stated his opposition
to the draft.
The Armenian Diaspora, which now seeks exemption for historians,
had previously ensured the conviction of the renowned historian
Bernard Lewis simply because he did not fully reflect "the Armenian
genocide" in an article. Likewise, following the application of
Armenian associations, the Paris Court convicted Quid Encyclopedia
on the grounds that it mentioned Turkey's view with regard to the
1915 incidents.