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PROFESSOR AKCAM'S COURT VICTORY
Worcester Telegram
http://www.telegram.com/article/20111101/NEWS/111019368/1020
Nov 1 2011
MA
A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favor of a Clark
University professor is a small but welcome step forward in the
ongoing debate over the Armenian genocide. The court ruled that Turkey
violated Taner Akcam's right to free expression when it filed criminal
complaints against him under Article 301 of Turkey's criminal code,
which makes it illegal to characterize the killing of 1.5 million
Armenians during the twilight of the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.
Mr. Akcam has been a courageous and leading advocate for recognizing
the genocide as such, and brought his case in 2007, following
the murder of journalist Hrant Dink, who had been convicted under
Article 301.
This case alone will hardly resolve a longstanding and contentious
historical dispute, but the European court has added its weight on
the side of historical truth and good sense. The Armenian genocide
debate itself is likely to endure for years to come, but Turkey's
official effort to squelch dissent and debate grows ever more tiresome
and untenable.
Worcester Telegram
http://www.telegram.com/article/20111101/NEWS/111019368/1020
Nov 1 2011
MA
A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favor of a Clark
University professor is a small but welcome step forward in the
ongoing debate over the Armenian genocide. The court ruled that Turkey
violated Taner Akcam's right to free expression when it filed criminal
complaints against him under Article 301 of Turkey's criminal code,
which makes it illegal to characterize the killing of 1.5 million
Armenians during the twilight of the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.
Mr. Akcam has been a courageous and leading advocate for recognizing
the genocide as such, and brought his case in 2007, following
the murder of journalist Hrant Dink, who had been convicted under
Article 301.
This case alone will hardly resolve a longstanding and contentious
historical dispute, but the European court has added its weight on
the side of historical truth and good sense. The Armenian genocide
debate itself is likely to endure for years to come, but Turkey's
official effort to squelch dissent and debate grows ever more tiresome
and untenable.