OSCE representative fears France’s genocide bill can set a precedent

December 23, 2011 - 11:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, expressed concern over the approval by the lower chamber of France’s parliament of a draft bill that aims at criminalizing public statements denying genocides.

If approved by the Senate - the upper house of Parliament - it would make those who deny or “outrageously minimize” genocides recognized as such by French legislation liable to a one-year jail term, or a 45,000 euro fine, or both.

“I fully acknowledge the humanitarian intentions of those members of the National Assembly who authored and supported this proposal. However, I believe that the final adoption of these legal amendments would raise serious concerns with regard to international standards of freedom of expression,” Mijatović said. “Furthermore, it could set a precedent internationally for politically construed, ad-hoc criminalization of public debates. Criminalization of debates on history's true course, even of obviously false and offensive statements about a nation's tragic moment, is not conducive to a better understanding among people, communities and authorities of OSCE participating States.”

Mijatović also said she fears the passing of this law “by a nation with a great history of press freedom might prompt other countries in the OSCE region to follow France’s example and similarly criminalize historical statements in violation of their OSCE commitments which aim at encouraging free discussion on issues of public interest.”

“A proliferation of national prohibitions on particular statements related to the culture and history of different nations and regions would render international free-speech standards inapplicable and subordinate them to a plethora of fragmented national strategies on regulation of speech and expression,” she said.

Mijatović added she hopes the French Senate will defeat the bill.