CONGRESSMAN BILIRAKIS QUESTIONS WHY TURKEY CONTINUES TO PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS WHO DISCUSS THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
18.06.2009 10:49

In a hearing yesterday before the Subcommittee on Europe in the House
of Representatives, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), raised strong
concerns regarding the Turkish government’s ongoing prosecution of
journalists and academics under the auspices of Article 301, which
penalizes discussion of the Armenian Genocide.

Rep. Bilirakis asked Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary for Bureau
of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State, who
was testifying about the Administration’s policies in Europe, "In
light of Turkey’s continued prosecution of intellectuals who express
themselves, what steps will you outline with the Turkish government
to ensure greater freedom of press and expression in Turkey?"

Gordon replied, "The U.S., everywhere, and the Obama Administration,
is a strong proponent of freedom of expression, freedom of the media,
freedom of the press, free societies. Turkey took some steps last year
to revise Article 301 of its penal code that made it more difficult
to have political prosecutions, that was an important step forward.

[Turkey] would do well to continue down that path and allow for
more freedom of expression. And we have a constant dialogue with the
Turkish government about these issues and we’ll continue to make that
view clear."

"The Assembly commends Congressman Bilirakis for his defense of
the truth.

Whether it is Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, highly paid
lobbyists arguing against the Armenian Genocide Resolution in Congress
or lawsuits filed in U.S. courts, such as the recent Massachusetts case
in which a federal judge upheld the Commonwealth’s decision to exclude
genocide denial materials in its curriculum, Turkey’s campaign of
denial continues," stated Assembly Executive Director, Bryan Ardouny.