January 30, 2007 - 14:26 AMT
Erdogan against canceling 301 article, but says it's possible to make changes in it
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks against canceling the 301st article of the Turkish Penal Code, but he says it is possible to make some changes in it. In his words, the matter is not about full cancellation of the article. Alongside he added that the Turkish government is ready to discuss offers from non-governmental organizations and other interested parties on the issue. The well-known 301st article, which foresees criminal punishment for "insulting Turkishness", has being criticized by international structures, including the European Union, since it limits freedom if speech in the country. Armenian-Turkish bilingual 'Agos' editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was sentenced to 6-month suspended imprisonment under this article. After his assassination the claims to cancel that very law strengthened both from international and Turkish non-governmental organizations, Cihan News Agency reports.