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FEDERATION OF ARMENIAN ORGANISATIONS WELCOMES FRENCH LAW
noyan tapan
2011-12-22 19:54:36
The Hague, 22 December 2011 - The Federation of Armenian Organisations
in the Netherlands (FAON) is glad that the French Parliament in
large majority has adopted a bill, which makes denial of the Armenian
Genocide a crime. Denying the holocaust has been a crime in France
since 1990.
The Armenian Federation believes that with such a provision a dam is
raised against denial propaganda of the Turkish government, which is
painful for the Armenians.
Based on the prohibition of discrimination in the Dutch Penal
Code, such statements are in principle already punishable in The
Netherlands. This is not only concerning the denial of the Holocaust,
but it makes also the denial of the Armenian Genocide punishable,
as indicated the former Minister of Justice at the time.
The bill introduced by the Christian Union MP Mr. Voordewind aims to
improve the legislation, in the sence that it makes the prohibition
explicitly clear, so that it should not be possible in the Netherlands
to deny systematically the genocide by public statements with the
intention to offend the people or discriminate them.
The fact that the denial (by the prohibition of discrimination)
is punishable in Dutch law, was so far for most factions in Dutch
Parliament the main argument to not support the bill by Christian
Union, as it was clear from the parliamentary debate this year.
The fact is, however, that despite frequent denials from both on the
Internet sites and elsewhere, while at the same time the Armenians
are often jeered as liars what the Genocide concerns, the the Public
Prosecution Service in the Netherlands has never prosecuted against
these offenders.
The Armenian Federation FAON hopes that the French law is a reason
for both the Dutch parliament and the the Public Prosecution Service
to consider closely an effective approach to the denial of genocide
in the Netherlands.
From: Baghdasarian
noyan tapan
2011-12-22 19:54:36
The Hague, 22 December 2011 - The Federation of Armenian Organisations
in the Netherlands (FAON) is glad that the French Parliament in
large majority has adopted a bill, which makes denial of the Armenian
Genocide a crime. Denying the holocaust has been a crime in France
since 1990.
The Armenian Federation believes that with such a provision a dam is
raised against denial propaganda of the Turkish government, which is
painful for the Armenians.
Based on the prohibition of discrimination in the Dutch Penal
Code, such statements are in principle already punishable in The
Netherlands. This is not only concerning the denial of the Holocaust,
but it makes also the denial of the Armenian Genocide punishable,
as indicated the former Minister of Justice at the time.
The bill introduced by the Christian Union MP Mr. Voordewind aims to
improve the legislation, in the sence that it makes the prohibition
explicitly clear, so that it should not be possible in the Netherlands
to deny systematically the genocide by public statements with the
intention to offend the people or discriminate them.
The fact that the denial (by the prohibition of discrimination)
is punishable in Dutch law, was so far for most factions in Dutch
Parliament the main argument to not support the bill by Christian
Union, as it was clear from the parliamentary debate this year.
The fact is, however, that despite frequent denials from both on the
Internet sites and elsewhere, while at the same time the Armenians
are often jeered as liars what the Genocide concerns, the the Public
Prosecution Service in the Netherlands has never prosecuted against
these offenders.
The Armenian Federation FAON hopes that the French law is a reason
for both the Dutch parliament and the the Public Prosecution Service
to consider closely an effective approach to the denial of genocide
in the Netherlands.
From: Baghdasarian