Valerie Boyer slams Turkey’s interference in France’s domestic affairs

PanARMENIAN.Net - The bill penalizing Armenian Genocide denial was initiated for the benefit of 600000 France-based Armenians, who, similar to Holocaust victims, are entitled to protection, according to the author of the bill.

As French MP Valerie Boyer said in her Facebook post, Turkey’s response to the adoption of the bill suggests disrespect for France’s sovereignty as well as interference in the country’s domestic affairs.

“France, as a champion of human rights, condemns archaic methods which don’t do credit to official Ankara,” the MP said.

As the parliamentarian reminded, Turkey itself adopted a law criminalizing Genocide acknowledgement.

Following the adoption of the bill, Ms. Boyer has been subjected to threats with her website attacked by Turkish hackers.

On December 22, 2011, French National Assembly passed a bill criminalizing public denial of the Armenian Genocide. If passed and signed into law by the Senate, the bill would impose 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. Following the vote, Ankara recalled its ambassador from France.