Turkey: Those who benefit from genocide allegations could get 10 years’ jail
TRT 1 television, Ankara
12 May 05
[News presenter] The parliament gave yet another meaningful reply to
those who accuse Turkey of having committed genocide. The proposal to
add a clause to the Turkish Penal Code [TCK] stipulating up to three
years of imprisonment for those claiming Turkey has committed genocide
was rejected on the grounds that Turkey should not be a partner in the
same shame.
[TRT-1 TV offscreen reporter] The Turkish Grand National Assembly
displayed a very meaningful position against those countries which
legally ban any declaration to the effect that no genocide was
perpetrated against Armenians.
During the debate on the TCK, a proposal was submitted stipulating up
to three years of imprisonment for those persons who openly claim
Turkey has committed genocide. Commenting on the proposal, which
generated intensive debate, Koksal Toptan, the head of the Justice
Committee, said that like everyone else on the committee he too
supports the content of the regulation but wants it to be withdrawn.
Justice Minister Cicek said, in turn, that he has discussed the issue
with the Foreign Ministry, adding that though the regulation is
considered justified on the basis of reciprocity, it did not find
support on the grounds that it could be construed as reactive.
Cicek ended his words by saying: Let us not be partners in the same
shame.
The proposal was eventually withdrawn.
However, an amendment to the TCK stipulates up to 10 years
imprisonment for those persons who benefit from the allegation that
Turkey has committed genocide [reference to alleged Armenian genocide
in 1915].