Turkish foreign ministry reacts to Greek parliament’s Genocide bill

September 11, 2014 - 16:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish foreign ministry reacted to Greek parliament’s adoption of a bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide and other crimes against humanity.

According to the statement by foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic, Turkey always closely followed discussions on the draft law and urged Greece to exercise care where the issue is concerned.

According to the statement, it was stressed during the discussions that the law and its formulations won’t become part of Turkey-related foreign policy. However, the adoption of the law is seen as suppression of the right for freedom of speech, and can become discriminatory for Turkish communities in the East Thrace, islands of Rhodes and Kos. Ankara further expressed concern that Greece-based Turkish nationals might be punished for violation of the law.

The Parliament of Greece on Tuesday, September 9 adopted a bill that criminalizes the denial of the Armenian Genocide and other crimes against humanity.

Greece becomes the third European country after Switzerland and Slovakia to adopt such a measure.

The bill known as “Fight against Xenophobia” envisions bringing criminal charges for denial of the genocides of not only Jews, but also Armenians and Pontus Greeks. The bill stipulates heavy fines and imprisonment terms for individuals who publicly deny genocides and other crimes against humanity that are recognized by the Greek Parliament and international courts.

The vote passed by 54 to 42 with three abstentions.

In early September, French MP Valerie Boyer introduced a new bill on criminalization of denial of genocides and crimes against humanity in the 20th century.

“With the centenary of the Armenian Genocide ahead of us, France has no laws to punish denial of genocides and crimes against humanity, with the exception of the Holocaust. Though officially recognizing both genocides, only the denial of Holocaust was made punishable by Paris,” the parliamentarian stressed, urging to rectify the situation.

According to the MP, criminalization of the genocide denial is gaining urgency amid relentless persecution of Christians in Iraq. In this context, Boyer suggested to introduce a new classification of the denial of genocide viewing it as a crime against humanity rather than abuse of free speech, thus protecting the memory of all genocides.

In 2012 and 2013 Boyer also initiated draft laws on criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

On January 23, 2012, French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide. The bill envisaged imposing a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Later, the French Constitutional Council ruled that a bill adopted by the French Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide was anti-constitutional.

In July, French President Francois Hollande confirmed plans for a new law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide with representatives of the Armenian community.