EU PRESIDENCY WELCOMES AMENDMENT OF TURKISH FREE SPEECH LAW

STA – Slovenska Tiskovna Agencija
April 30 2008
Slovenia

Ljubljana, 30 April (STA) – The Slovenian EU presidency welcomed
on Wednesday the decision of the Turkish parliament to soften a law
restricting free speech, saying this was a constructive step forward
in ensuring freedom of expression. The presidency added it was looking
forward to its effective implementation.

Responding to the amendment of Article 301 in the Turkish penal code,
which penalises "insults to Turkishness", the EU presidency said
this was positive for Turkey and an indication of Turkey’s continuing
commitment to the reform process.

Under the government-sponsored amendment, which was passed on
Wednesday, the vague term of "Turkishness" was replaced with the
"Turkish nation" and the envisaged jail term cut down from three to
two years.

Article 301 has mainly been used to discipline those challenging
the official line on the WWI mass killings of Armenians under the
Ottoman Empire.