SWISS COURT CONFIRMS CONVICTION OF TURKS FOR GENOCIDE DENIAL
Assa-Irada
Feb 16 2010
Azerbaijan
Zurichs Court of Appeals confirmed Tuesday the initial verdict of
a Swiss district court that ruled three Swiss citizens of Turkish
descent were guilty of denying Armenian genocide claims, daily Vatan
reported yesterday. The defendants, Ali Mercan, Hasan Kemahl?
and Ethem Kayal?, had denounced Armenians claims of genocide as lies
at a meeting in 2007 in the Swiss district of Winterthur. Mercan is
the foreign representative of the Turkey-based Workers Party, while
Kemahl? and Kayal? are members of the Atat?rk?? D???nce Derne?i,
a Turkey-based think tank. In March 2007, Do?u Perin?ek, the leader
of the Workers Party, was similarly found guilty by a Swiss district
court of conscious violation of Swiss laws against genocide denial
with a racist motivation and was fined 12,000 Swiss francs (17,000
Turkish Liras). The verdict was confirmed by the Vaud cantonal appeal
court on June 19 of the same year, and by the Federal Supreme Court
of Switzerland on Dec. 12, 2007. We knew the decision would come out
like that, said the lawyers of the defendants, according to the report
by daily Vatan. The Swiss government is mediating between Turkey and
Armenia for a historical reconciliation of ties. The two countries
signed protocols last October to normalize their relations. The
protocols foresee the formation of a committee of historians to
discuss historic issues. Yet the process has hit the rocks since the
Armenian constitutional courts ruling that the interpretation and
application of the protocols should be in compliance with both the
Armenian constitution and declaration of independence, which call for
the international recognition of Armenian genocide claims. Turkey
reacted to the decision saying it constitutes a prejudice in the
workings of the committee of historians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
