Blocher insists on revised anti:racism law

SwissInfo, Switzerland
Neue Zurcher Zeitung
Oct 6 2006

Swiss Justice Minister Christoph Blocher says he is intent on revising
Switzerland’s anti:racism law, confirming comments he made in Turkey
earlier this week.

Blocher’s original remarks, made in Ankara, caused an uproar in
Switzerland among politicians and the media. The cabinet is to discuss
the minister’s statement soon.

Speaking in Zurich on Friday, Blocher said he said he was surprised by
the criticism he faced back home after making his comments. He added
that what bothered him in the legislation was the "tense relationship"
between freedom of speech and anti:racism legislation.

Freedom of expression was essential to democracy, affirmed the
minister. "I want people to be able to express themselves in
Switzerland, even if their opinion doesn’t appeal to everyone,"
he added.

During his trip to Turkey, Blocher had remarked that part of the
anti:racism law : adopted in 1994 and including sections aimed
at preventing revisionist views about the Holocaust : gave him a
"headache".

The law has led to investigations against two Turks, including a
historian, in Switzerland for allegedly denying the 1915 Armenian
massacre.

Blocher said a working group at his ministry was re:examining the law,
in particular article 261bis, adding that it was up to the government,
parliament and possibly the population, to decide on any changes.

Blocher said on Friday that he had not many any promises to the
Turkish government on the matter.

Armenians say around 1.8 million of their people were killed in the
massacre. Turkey disputes this, putting the figure closer to 200,000.

Under Swiss law any act of denying, belittling or justifying genocide
is a violation of the country’s anti:racism legislation.

Storm of protest Blocher’s comments unleashed a storm of protest in
Switzerland. On Thursday Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said that
the justice minister’s remarks were "unacceptable".

For his part, President Moritz Leuenberger said he was surprised,
adding that the cabinet would discuss the issues arising from
Blocher’s comments.

Three of the main political parties in government have also condemned
the remarks. Blocher’s own rightwing Swiss People’s Party has so far
declined to comment.

However, the House of Representatives, which has just ended its autumn
parliamentary session, has decided against debating on the issue.

Several political commentators have called the comments provocative
and have questioned whether the anti:racism law, voted on by the
population, could be changed.

Marcel Niggli, professor of law of Fribourg University, told swissinfo
that it was strange that Blocher should have made the remarks during
a trip abroad and that he should have defended and not criticised
the law.

Blocher said that on the whole the trip has been positive and that
his Turkish counterpart Cemil Cicek had assured him that he was ready
to create a commission made up of historians from different countries
that would have access to Turkish and Armenian archives.

swissinfo with agencies