The Union of Turkish Associations in Europe laid black wreaths in front of French consulates general in four German cities - Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart - to protest the bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide that was approved by French National Assembly on October 12th, 2006. Recep Yildirim, the Chairman of the Union of Turkish Associations in Europe, said that France, which defended human rights and freedom of expression, has blackened its history due to adoption of the bill. Yildirim added, "we hope that the bill will not be approved in the Senate."