Turkish journalist says Armenian Genocide a true fact

February 8, 2012 - 15:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish journalist Ergun Babahan recently published an article dedicated to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and freedom of speech in Turkey. The author presented authorities’ long-term policy, highlighting their propaganda and existing impediments to freedom of speech citing Dink’s murder as an example.

“Armenian Genocide is a true fact. Turkish authorities must argue neither the Armenian Genocide recognition by other states, nor passage of bills criminalizing its denial,” he writes.

According to Mr Babahan, many records of government officials’ conversations with newspaper editors prove Turkish authorizes’ policy aimed at controlling the media.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected to be signed into law by President within 14 days, the bill will 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.

Two separate groups of French politicians who oppose the legislation - from both the Senate and the lower house - said they had formally requested the constitutional council examine the law. The groups said they each had gathered more than the minimum 60 signatures required to ask the council to test the law's constitutionality. The council is obliged to deliver its judgment within a month, but this can be reduced to eight days if the government deems the matter urgent.