NEW CRIMINAL CODE FUNCTIONS IN TURKEY
AZG Armenian Daily #101, 03/06/2005
Turkey
The new criminal code came into force in Turkey on June 1. BBC informed that
though there are many amendments in the new criminal code made by the demand
of the EU, it still envisages punishment measures. Particularly, the
accusations against the state structures, as well as publication of the
materials that “contradict the national interests” should be punished
according to the law.
The old criminal code considered the publications including the issues of
withdrawal of Turkish forces from Cyprus and the statements about the
Armenian Genocide in 1915 were considered as contradicting the national
interests. Though, the Armenian Genocide is not mentioned in the new
criminal code, it is obvious that the statements on the Armenian Genocide
can be characterized as “contradicting the national interests.”