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ANCT Welcomed the Passage of a Bill Criminalizing the Denial of the
Armenian Genocide
noyan tapan
2011-12-23 23:11:11 | | Press release
Toronto, Canada - The Armenian National Committee of Toronto (ANCT)
welcomed the passage of a bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian Genocide, and rendering it punishable with a year in jail and
a fine of 45,000 euros ($ 58,000). The bill was voted on the morning
of December 12, 2012 in the lower house of French parliament and is
now scheduled to come before the Senate early in the new year, where
if passed, will become part of French law.
France formally recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001, though at
the time, there were no laws criminalizing its denial. France, as well
as many other European countries, already has laws banning the denial
of the Jewish Holocaust.
In the days leading up to the vote, the Turkish government threatened
its relationship with the French government, in an attempt to sway the
vote. Many French Members of Parliament spoke against these bullying
tactics, including the bill's author, Valerie Boyer, who has
maintained that the bill is not aimed at any particular country, but
instead is based on European laws that reprimand genocide denial in
all forms.
"The statement issued by some of Turkey's main political parties
claims the bill 'denigrates Turkish history'; this is yet another
example of the Turkish government trying to force its own views not
only on the French government, but also the Canadian government, the
U.S government and other governments around the world," said ANCT
Chairman Jack Tchakmakian. "We applaud the French government for
refusing to heed to Ankara's attempts at bullying and blackmail."
Soon after word of the bill being passed, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan followed through on many of the threats made, halting
bilateral political and economic contacts, suspending military
cooperation and recalling Ambassador Tahsin Burcuoglu.
Turkey has also argued that the bill passed in France encroaches on
freedom of expression however, the Turkish government has long been
reproached for its own questionable freedom of speech record,
including Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which makes it a
crime to "denigrate the Turkish Nation" and its government. Many
well-known Turkish authors, such as Orhan Pamuk, the late Hrant Dink
and most recently, Ragip Zarakolu, have all been charged under Article
301 for publicly speaking about the Armenian Genocide.
About ANCT
The Armenian National Committee of Toronto is a chapter of the
Armenian National Committee of Canada, grassroots organization that
was founded in 1965 to address the concerns of the Canadian Armenian
community of a broad range of issues.
Armenian Genocide
noyan tapan
2011-12-23 23:11:11 | | Press release
Toronto, Canada - The Armenian National Committee of Toronto (ANCT)
welcomed the passage of a bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian Genocide, and rendering it punishable with a year in jail and
a fine of 45,000 euros ($ 58,000). The bill was voted on the morning
of December 12, 2012 in the lower house of French parliament and is
now scheduled to come before the Senate early in the new year, where
if passed, will become part of French law.
France formally recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001, though at
the time, there were no laws criminalizing its denial. France, as well
as many other European countries, already has laws banning the denial
of the Jewish Holocaust.
In the days leading up to the vote, the Turkish government threatened
its relationship with the French government, in an attempt to sway the
vote. Many French Members of Parliament spoke against these bullying
tactics, including the bill's author, Valerie Boyer, who has
maintained that the bill is not aimed at any particular country, but
instead is based on European laws that reprimand genocide denial in
all forms.
"The statement issued by some of Turkey's main political parties
claims the bill 'denigrates Turkish history'; this is yet another
example of the Turkish government trying to force its own views not
only on the French government, but also the Canadian government, the
U.S government and other governments around the world," said ANCT
Chairman Jack Tchakmakian. "We applaud the French government for
refusing to heed to Ankara's attempts at bullying and blackmail."
Soon after word of the bill being passed, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan followed through on many of the threats made, halting
bilateral political and economic contacts, suspending military
cooperation and recalling Ambassador Tahsin Burcuoglu.
Turkey has also argued that the bill passed in France encroaches on
freedom of expression however, the Turkish government has long been
reproached for its own questionable freedom of speech record,
including Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which makes it a
crime to "denigrate the Turkish Nation" and its government. Many
well-known Turkish authors, such as Orhan Pamuk, the late Hrant Dink
and most recently, Ragip Zarakolu, have all been charged under Article
301 for publicly speaking about the Armenian Genocide.
About ANCT
The Armenian National Committee of Toronto is a chapter of the
Armenian National Committee of Canada, grassroots organization that
was founded in 1965 to address the concerns of the Canadian Armenian
community of a broad range of issues.