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French minister proposes commission to try Genocide deniers
22:40 - 06.05.11
France's Justice Minister has said that he would publish a memorandum
that would mandate punishment for Genocide denial.
According to the Turkish daily Today's Zaman, Michel Mercier announced
at the Senate that the memo will be drafted later this week and he
cited a similar commission of the Jewish community and the Justice
Ministry as a precedent for such a body.
`I invite the representatives of the Armenian society to jointly work
with members of the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice in order to
determine all of the incidents of genocide denial and racism,' said
Mecier.
It comes after France's Senate rejected on Wednesday a bill that would
criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
The memorandum with delineate a commission comprised of
representatives of the Armenian community will be able to file
complaints to punish those who deny the existence of genocide and
assign the jail sentences.
Turkish officials were `shocked' by the memorandum proposal, according
to Today's Zaman. They claimed they learned about it during their
lobbying meetings with Franch officials.
The Armenian Genocide took place in the early 20th century when more
than 1.5 million Armenians living under the Ottoman Empire rule were
massacred and death marched in the deserts of Deir ez-Zore.
The Armenian Genocide was first recognized by Uruguay in 1965. As of
2009 21 countries and 43 US states have formally recognized it. The US
government has not, however, recognized it yet.
Turkey has not recognized the Armenian Genocide either, claiming the
massacres and the death marches did not constitute genocide.
Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
22:40 - 06.05.11
France's Justice Minister has said that he would publish a memorandum
that would mandate punishment for Genocide denial.
According to the Turkish daily Today's Zaman, Michel Mercier announced
at the Senate that the memo will be drafted later this week and he
cited a similar commission of the Jewish community and the Justice
Ministry as a precedent for such a body.
`I invite the representatives of the Armenian society to jointly work
with members of the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice in order to
determine all of the incidents of genocide denial and racism,' said
Mecier.
It comes after France's Senate rejected on Wednesday a bill that would
criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
The memorandum with delineate a commission comprised of
representatives of the Armenian community will be able to file
complaints to punish those who deny the existence of genocide and
assign the jail sentences.
Turkish officials were `shocked' by the memorandum proposal, according
to Today's Zaman. They claimed they learned about it during their
lobbying meetings with Franch officials.
The Armenian Genocide took place in the early 20th century when more
than 1.5 million Armenians living under the Ottoman Empire rule were
massacred and death marched in the deserts of Deir ez-Zore.
The Armenian Genocide was first recognized by Uruguay in 1965. As of
2009 21 countries and 43 US states have formally recognized it. The US
government has not, however, recognized it yet.
Turkey has not recognized the Armenian Genocide either, claiming the
massacres and the death marches did not constitute genocide.
Tert.am
From: A. Papazian