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TURKEY WELCOMES FRENCH CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF GENOCIDE LAW
BYLINE: James Goundry
Global Insight
February 1, 2012
More than 130 French senators and MPs from across the political divide
called on the constitutional court to verify the legality of a law
passed by the Senate on 23 January, criminalising denial of genocide.
They argue the law violates freedom of speech. The number of lawmakers
far surpassed the 60 required to secure a constitutional review of
the legislation before it can be signed into law by President Nicolas
Sarkozy. The bill, which would introduce a EUR45,000 (USD58,000) fine
and a prison sentence of up to one year for those denying genocides
recognised by the state, was controversial and prompted a storm of
criticism and threats from the Turkish government as it made its
way through the French parliament (seeFrance - Turkey - Armenia: 24
January 2012:). France recognises the deaths of hundreds of thousands
of Armenians in Eastern Turkey during the First World War as genocide.
Turkey vehemently refutes this label.
Significance:The referral to the constitutional court is likely
motivated by a mixture of lawmakers fearful of the impact of Turkish
retaliation on French business and those who disagree with a law which
has been criticised by Amnesty International as limiting freedom of
speech. Sarkozy signalled his displeasure at the move, stating that
it was not helpful and warned that it could lead to a reconsideration
of France's law criminalising denial of the Nazi holocaust. Turkey
will hold off announcing any threatened "retaliatory measures" until
the review is completed in eight days' to one month's time.
BYLINE: James Goundry
Global Insight
February 1, 2012
More than 130 French senators and MPs from across the political divide
called on the constitutional court to verify the legality of a law
passed by the Senate on 23 January, criminalising denial of genocide.
They argue the law violates freedom of speech. The number of lawmakers
far surpassed the 60 required to secure a constitutional review of
the legislation before it can be signed into law by President Nicolas
Sarkozy. The bill, which would introduce a EUR45,000 (USD58,000) fine
and a prison sentence of up to one year for those denying genocides
recognised by the state, was controversial and prompted a storm of
criticism and threats from the Turkish government as it made its
way through the French parliament (seeFrance - Turkey - Armenia: 24
January 2012:). France recognises the deaths of hundreds of thousands
of Armenians in Eastern Turkey during the First World War as genocide.
Turkey vehemently refutes this label.
Significance:The referral to the constitutional court is likely
motivated by a mixture of lawmakers fearful of the impact of Turkish
retaliation on French business and those who disagree with a law which
has been criticised by Amnesty International as limiting freedom of
speech. Sarkozy signalled his displeasure at the move, stating that
it was not helpful and warned that it could lead to a reconsideration
of France's law criminalising denial of the Nazi holocaust. Turkey
will hold off announcing any threatened "retaliatory measures" until
the review is completed in eight days' to one month's time.