Justice minister: Article 301 may be changed

The New Anatolian
Oct 7 2006

The New Anatolian / Ankara

Justice Minister Cemil Cicek on Friday signaled that controversial
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) may be changed.

"We’re not saying that Article 301 can’t be changed, as it may be,"
said Cicek. "But we have yet to decide how."

Article 301 of the TCK has been the legal basis for a number of court
cases filed against intellectuals, writers and journalists, on charges
of insulting the state organs, Parliament and Turkish identity. The
article is also one of the controversies between the European Union
and Turkey.

Cicek on Friday denied claims that the government has failed to reach
a consensus on the article, adding that the public’s views regarding
changing the article should also be taken into account. "What will we
say if the public asks us whether we’re ashamed to be Turks?" asked
the justice minister.

Cicek also criticized the European Commission for its pressure on
the government to remove the article. "They’ve asked us to change the
article and we replied that we may, but asked them what they will do
about the bill in French Parliament on the so-called Armenian genocide
claims," Cicek explained.

The justice minister also asserted that the EU’s attitude regarding
terrorism in Turkey is causing a crisis of confidence among the public.