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EUROPEAN COURT DECISION ON GENOCIDE DENIAL STRONGLY CONDEMNED
http://asbarez.com/117552/european-court-decision-on-genocide-denial-strongly-condemned/
Wednesday, December 18th, 2013
A memorial to the Armenian Genocide in a square in Decines, France
(Photo: Reuters)
PARIS-The Armenian National Committee office in France and the European
Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (ANC of Europe) issued
a joint statement Tuesday strongly condemning the Dec. 17 ruling
of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that the denial of the
Armenian genocide is not a criminal offense. According to the Court,
the 2007 decision of the Lausanne Police Court against the head of
Turkish Workers' Party Dogu Perincek is a violation of the right to
freedom of expression. (Read the Court's press release here.)
The statement considered the ruling to be direct assistance to the
wave of denial orchestrated by official Ankara and Baku throughout
Europe. "Once again hiding behind the right to free speech, and
following the example of the French Constitutional Council, the
European Court undermines with this infamous decision the right to
dignity of the victims and descendants of the Armenian genocide,"
read the statement.
The statement further noted that the decision will "undoubtedly
strengthen extremist movements" and undermine the voices calling for
justice from within Turkey.
"Moreover, by declaring that 'it would be very difficult to identify
a general consensus' on the Armenian genocide, the Court aligns
itself with Perincek's statement that the Armenian genocide is an
'international lie.' The Court's approach that 'clearly distinguished
the present case from those concerning the negation of the crimes of
the Holocaust' is also deplorable. How can such a distinction be made
by the highest human rights court in Europe?"
In conclusion, the statement noted that the ANC of France, in
coordination with the EAFJD Brussels office, will fight against this
unacceptable decision. "Switzerland has three months to appeal this
verdict. We have requested a meeting with the Swiss Ambassador in
Paris, to present our expectations from the Swiss authorities.
Coordinated efforts will be made in other countries as well, through
local ANCs and regional offices, as well as through official Yerevan,
as we form a united front against this decision," concluded the
statement.
http://asbarez.com/117552/european-court-decision-on-genocide-denial-strongly-condemned/
Wednesday, December 18th, 2013
A memorial to the Armenian Genocide in a square in Decines, France
(Photo: Reuters)
PARIS-The Armenian National Committee office in France and the European
Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (ANC of Europe) issued
a joint statement Tuesday strongly condemning the Dec. 17 ruling
of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that the denial of the
Armenian genocide is not a criminal offense. According to the Court,
the 2007 decision of the Lausanne Police Court against the head of
Turkish Workers' Party Dogu Perincek is a violation of the right to
freedom of expression. (Read the Court's press release here.)
The statement considered the ruling to be direct assistance to the
wave of denial orchestrated by official Ankara and Baku throughout
Europe. "Once again hiding behind the right to free speech, and
following the example of the French Constitutional Council, the
European Court undermines with this infamous decision the right to
dignity of the victims and descendants of the Armenian genocide,"
read the statement.
The statement further noted that the decision will "undoubtedly
strengthen extremist movements" and undermine the voices calling for
justice from within Turkey.
"Moreover, by declaring that 'it would be very difficult to identify
a general consensus' on the Armenian genocide, the Court aligns
itself with Perincek's statement that the Armenian genocide is an
'international lie.' The Court's approach that 'clearly distinguished
the present case from those concerning the negation of the crimes of
the Holocaust' is also deplorable. How can such a distinction be made
by the highest human rights court in Europe?"
In conclusion, the statement noted that the ANC of France, in
coordination with the EAFJD Brussels office, will fight against this
unacceptable decision. "Switzerland has three months to appeal this
verdict. We have requested a meeting with the Swiss Ambassador in
Paris, to present our expectations from the Swiss authorities.
Coordinated efforts will be made in other countries as well, through
local ANCs and regional offices, as well as through official Yerevan,
as we form a united front against this decision," concluded the
statement.