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EUROPEAN COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF TANER AKCAM
hetq
16:39, October 26, 2011
Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Turkish
government's prosecution under Article 301 of its penal code regarding
Taner Akcam's public views on the Armenian Genocide violated his right
to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention
on Human Rights.
Dr. Akcam became the target of threats for expressing his views and
publishing his findings on the Armenian Genocide. A close friend
to the late Hrant Dink, Dr. Akcam knew all too well the dangers of
speaking about this taboo subject in Turkey. Before he was gunned down
in broad daylight, Hrant Dink was also prosecuted under Article 301.
In its decision, the Court acknowledged this connection noting "it
was widely believed that Hrant Dink had been targeted by extremists
because of the stigma attached to his criminal conviction for
'insulting Turkishness.'"
The Court further concluded that changes to Article 301 and the
replacement of the term "Turkishness" by the words "the Turkish
Nation" made "no change or major difference in the interpretation of
these concepts because they have been understood in the same manner
by the Court of Cassation... [in other words it] does not introduce
a substantial change or contribute to the widening of protection of
the right to freedom of expression."
Welcoming the court's decision, Taner Akcam commented that, "Turkey
should learn that facing history and coming to terms with past
human rights abuses is not a crime but a prerequisite for peace and
reconciliation in the region. I consider myself as a part of Turkish
civil society, which fights for a truly free and democratic Turkey.
This cannot happen if Turkey continues to criminalize discussion of
the Armenian Genocide."
The Court rejected Akcam's claim of 90,000 Euros in compensation.
From: A. Papazian
hetq
16:39, October 26, 2011
Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Turkish
government's prosecution under Article 301 of its penal code regarding
Taner Akcam's public views on the Armenian Genocide violated his right
to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention
on Human Rights.
Dr. Akcam became the target of threats for expressing his views and
publishing his findings on the Armenian Genocide. A close friend
to the late Hrant Dink, Dr. Akcam knew all too well the dangers of
speaking about this taboo subject in Turkey. Before he was gunned down
in broad daylight, Hrant Dink was also prosecuted under Article 301.
In its decision, the Court acknowledged this connection noting "it
was widely believed that Hrant Dink had been targeted by extremists
because of the stigma attached to his criminal conviction for
'insulting Turkishness.'"
The Court further concluded that changes to Article 301 and the
replacement of the term "Turkishness" by the words "the Turkish
Nation" made "no change or major difference in the interpretation of
these concepts because they have been understood in the same manner
by the Court of Cassation... [in other words it] does not introduce
a substantial change or contribute to the widening of protection of
the right to freedom of expression."
Welcoming the court's decision, Taner Akcam commented that, "Turkey
should learn that facing history and coming to terms with past
human rights abuses is not a crime but a prerequisite for peace and
reconciliation in the region. I consider myself as a part of Turkish
civil society, which fights for a truly free and democratic Turkey.
This cannot happen if Turkey continues to criminalize discussion of
the Armenian Genocide."
The Court rejected Akcam's claim of 90,000 Euros in compensation.
From: A. Papazian