Ali Babacan: article 301 will be amended
"The amendments in article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code will follow budget discussions, as promised to the European Union," Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said during 58th meeting of Turkey- EU mixed parliamentary commission yesterday.
"Amendments will be brought to the national assembly soon. The discussions on other articles may become an issue of debate with the amendment of the article 301. We will change this because this is what Turkish people want," he said.
Article 301 makes it a crime to insult "Turkishness". It has been used to bring charges against writer Orhan Pamuk, novelist Elif Shafak, slain Agos editor Hrant Dink and his son Arat Dink for mention of the Armenian Genocide.
"Amendments will be brought to the national assembly soon. The discussions on other articles may become an issue of debate with the amendment of the article 301. We will change this because this is what Turkish people want," he said.
Article 301 makes it a crime to insult "Turkishness". It has been used to bring charges against writer Orhan Pamuk, novelist Elif Shafak, slain Agos editor Hrant Dink and his son Arat Dink for mention of the Armenian Genocide.
