French Senate Passes Bill Criminalizing Armenian Genocide Denial
By Weekly Staff // Posted on January 23, 2012 in News // 222 Comments // 
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PARIS, France (A.W.)—The French Senate on Jan. 23 passed a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide, despite threats and bullying from the Turkish state. The bill passed with 127 votes for, 86 against.
The French Senate (Photo copyright of AFP)
Drafted by French General Assembly member Valerie Boyer, the bill renders denial punishable with a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($58,000).
It is slated to be signed into law by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
During the proceedings, members of the French Senate spoke powerfully and vocally in support of the bill, noting that it’s not directed against any specific country—that it is merely an effort to honor the memory of genocide victims and the struggle against hate speech.
Those who opposed the bill did so on the grounds of opposing memorial laws in general, arguing that the Senate is not a courthouse and not a place to legislate history.
The Senate first voted to confirm the constitutionality of the bill. The Senate also voted down four proposed amendments.
French-Armenian intellectuals and artists—including Charles Aznavour, Serge Avedikian, Simon Abkarian, and Levon Sayan—had each issued a call to the French Senate to pass the bill.
Commenting on the vote, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian said, ”Today’s courageous vote by the French Senate shines the spotlight across the Atlantic, on American policymakers who, for far too long, have let Ankara block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”
“We mark this occasion by urging President Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and by calling on the U.S. House leadership to allow a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.304,” he added.
Thousands of French-Armenians gathered in front of the Senate building to express their support for the bill. The crowd celebrated by singing Armenian national and revolutionary songs (see video).
Nearby the crowd, a group of Turks in opposition to the bill had also gathered. More than an hour before the vote, however, the group started to disperse. The Turkish newspaper Radikal ran an article on its website titled, “The Turks went home, the Armenians have started celebrating,” in reference to the mood of the crowds during the hour leading up to the vote (see photo).
'The Turks went home, the Armenians have started celebrating.'
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Jan. 20 had urged the French Senate not to pass the bill, noting that it would constitute “a black stain on France’s intellectual history.”
“We will always remind them of that,” he added.
In turn, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he may not visit France again if the Senate passed the bill, reported Hurriyet Daily News.
On Jan. 18, a French Senate committee rejected the bill. The decision was not binding, however, and the Jan. 23 vote proceeded as scheduled.
The bill’s passage did not come as a surprise, as both the left and the right in France had expressed support for it.
On Dec. 22, the French General Assembly had approved the bill, prompting Ankara to withdraw its ambassador from Paris, only to have him return a few weeks later.
France adopted a bill officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide in 2001.
KAko –
The Republic of Turkey is a legal successor of the Ottoman empire and the prescribed punishment for the crime of genocide, according to the UN Genocide Convention, is not subject to the limitations of time and place.
Thanks, didn’t know that the Genocide Convention has that. I see that would pose a problem.
it is very odd that you did not know UN Genocide convention explanation on Genocide and time and place.. well if that is the case..when you don’t know something that is very well known to those who truly understand what Genocide is and the implication on the human race and what high ranking organization say about it.. then I would suggest you do your research and maybe independent study before expressing your thoughts…
Not sure if you want us to weep or be sad because you decided not to post here anymore..Armenians are very open and willing to accept any Turk who is willing to post on these pages but TRUST YOU ME.. we will not allowe lies, and made up and messed up thoughts and facts thrown by Turk denialists…you will be shut down..
KAko –
If your neighbors burn your parents alive, gang-rape your sister, and crush your newborn’s head against the wall (these are not horror stories, these are factual methods employed by ‘civilized’ Turks during the AG), then move to your house, steal your property, bank accounts, and cultural edifices, and then after 97 years come to you under international pressure (not by his own) and offer you an apology, would you not be entitled to demand compensation for the loss of life, house, properties, and psychological and moral trauma inflicted upon you and your next-of-kins?
Of course you would. But if grand-grand fathers of your neighbors do this to your grand-grand fathers, it’s a bit different. So many years passed since.
BTW I see often that it is an employed method to give some graphic details on the murders. It’s trying to give an emotional argument to an pragmatic issue. I think the murder is the crime here, not its method. The same kind of killing has also been done in Turkish villages by Armenian raids before AG (not that it justifies AG).
“The same kind of killing has also been done in Turkish villages by Armenian raids before AG (not that it justifies AG).”
Turks such as you, KAko, love to play that moral equivalency game: it will never work.
Before AG there was the Hamidian massacre of about 300,000 Armenians (1895). Followed by Adana: about 30,000 Armenians (1909).
Whatever killings Armenians did has been for self defense or righteous retribution. Armenians have no doubt killed Turk civilians (against orders). Massacres of Armenian civilians, on the other hand, have been organized and carried out on orders of the Turk authorities.
And if you are still confused as to who started the killings, remember this immutable historical fact: there were NO Turks in Asia Minor prior to about 1000 AD. We know for a fact that Turks started killing Armenians first. How do we know this ? Because Armenians did not leave their ancestral homeland and invade the homeland of Turks. Because nomadic Seljuk Turk tribes left their ancestral homeland in East and Central Asia, travelled about 3,000 Kilometers due West, and invaded the Armenian Highlands in-force.
And we know Seljuk Turks did not come in peace, because we have this thing called the ‘Battle of Manazkert 1071’. It is not called the ‘Annual Exhibition of New Swords and Shields at Manazkert’. Turks boast about their military victory at Manazkert. They don’t boast about their trading success.
The same kind of killing has also been done in Turkish villages by Armenian raids before AG (not that it justifies AG).
kako- Then what’s your point?
Also: “Some semi-official Turkish narratives now claim, in effect, that the Armenians actually carried out genocidal attacks on the Turks. Neo-Nazis and their scholarly enablers say that “the Jews” manufactured tall tales of the Holocaust in order to extort money and other concessions from postwar Germany. Neo-Confederates like Doug Wilson, a far-right pastor in Moscow, Idaho, tell their listeners with a straight face that the Civil War was nothing less than a defense of righteous Christian civilization and that blacks really didn’t mind slavery. These lies all serve current agendas — to demonize and minimize the historical claims of Armenians, Jews, and African Americans.”
–Mark Potok. Something to think about Kako.
Graphic details are given Kako to show how barbaric your ancestors were.. to show that they did not just come in and simply shoot and killed innocent people.. innocent babies, women, and elderly… they used the most heinous avenues to destroy a race.. you appreciate the difference??? and Genocide is and wil be an emotional matter but the difference is… THERE IS NO ARGUMENT ABOUT GENOCIDE.. GENOCIDE happened.. we are not here to argue whether or not it occured..
If you are not part of the main stream as you graciously bestowed upon the Armenians because your thinking hat does not mesh with us, and we throw people out who don’t think like us (such idiotic statement by you) then do something productive and start educating yourself FIRST and then start changing other denialists minds…
have a nice day
“Because Armenians did not leave their ancestral homeland and invade the homeland of Turks. ”
Hah! Armenians have left the ancestral homeland and built the Cilician Kingdom of Armenia. Which of course didn’t happen peacefully. Cilicia is hundreds of miles away from the Ancestral homeland of the Armenians.
OK we stepped in here now we own this place. Is this the logic here? The Turks did the same. We all originated from Africa, there is our real ancestral homeland, homeland of all of us.
Don’t tell me that the Armenians are 100% innocent people. There was an Armenian Empire in the 1st C. BC. under the king Tigran II (Tigran the Great).
Do you know the meaning of the empire building? It costs lives of people, hundreds, thousands, sometimes millions.
Human being is the all the same, they will kill whenever or wherever possible, if they can.
Resomen,
I think ou should recheck your facts what we call GENOCIDE.. not empires against empires.. we are dealing with GENOCIDE.. that is the FACT that Turkey needs to face.. that people like you need to face.. AND REPAY…
But we ARE telling you that ARmenians do not have such blood to kill innocent people for the intention of wiping out an entire nation… but we never said Armenians did not go against another .. BUT the difference between ARmenians took arms against your ancestors was that ARmenian empires went to wars/battles against another warring side that consisted of soldiers.. NOT gag of wild animals released on innocent women, children and eldery to murder without a heart and conscious in the intention of “lets murder as many as possible so we can get a better place in heaven with riches”.. you get my drift? Kabish??… you see the difference or are you still in your muddled up and messed up world???
I get flabergasted most of the time when I keep reading such rubbish these denialists throw up on our pages.. just amazes me…
Gayane jan, very good answers to KAko. And Berch you gave very good analogy to him.
“thus no financial and territorial indemnity can be given to the victims. The state should declare an official apology to the armenian people, and close this issue.”
wouldn’t that be nice KAko.
You seem to have picked up on the Genocide Convention, but missed the more important item Berch mentioned: Modern Turkey is a legal Successor State to Ottoman Empire. Do you know what that means ?
It means the successor state inherits both the Assets and Liabilities of the predecessor state. For example, Russia is legal Successor State of USSR. That is why they inherited the priceless UN Permanent Security Seat (one of only 5). Russia also paid off the debts accrued by USSR. Abides by treaties entered by USSR. A whole lot of things.
Back to Modern Turkey: if Turks don’t want the liabilities of Ottoman Turkey, then they have to give up the assets – both liquid and illiquid – they inherited from OT. You don’t want to pay compensation for the AG ? OK: agree to give us back all our assets; we’ll put it to a vote of all Armenians worldwide: if it passes by a supermajority, we’ll call it even. Turks don’t have to recognize or apologize for the AG, we get our wealth and lands back – everybody happy.
And I know you are tired, but see if you can reconcile your desire to just say “sorry” and move on, with PM Erdogan’s insistence that Israel not only apologize, but pay compensation for the 9 Turks killed on Mavi Marmara. Why not just close the issue ? Have you talked to the parents of those 9 Turks ? You think they would agree just to close the issue and move on ?
Dear Mr. Palandjian,
Although I wish time and again that the US, the UK, the rest of the European countries and other parts of the world would finally and in unison accept the Armenian Genocide as well as follow the good and the just deeds of the venerable France and their Senate, but after what Hillary Clinton said recently, I find that we are dealing with political figures that rather live in deceit, lies and kiss Genocide denier Turkey’s behind than to be honest with themselves and their souls. I truly wonder if Hilary Clinton has any soul at all. I have a good suggestion for her that if she wishes to see God when she passes away to redo and remake her entire soul altogether.
On your other suggestion about repatriation is what I have wished now for a decade, but is it possible? Sure it is, but is it doable, I honestly wish so. In the best scenario what you are suggesting would be perfect, because most of the Armenians abroad that didn’t live under the communist regime are pretty much more affluent than our brothers who lived under the severe communist regime. Most of them were not able to tend to their families the way they wanted to, they lived through hard times and now a million exodus since the early 1990′s. The ones that are living outside since their birthtime, how many of them do you think would go to Armenia and under those circumstances when the government and the oligarchs are ruling the country with an iron fist and democracy nor the law doesn’t reign. I surely don’t know. It’s a wishful thinking, but is it doable? Moi je ne c’est pas.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/01/23/breaking-news-french-senate-passes-bill-criminalizing-armenian-genocide-denial/
This morning I woke up and saw that facts are still facts and myths still remain as myths. Go figure! I think those French politicians have overestimated their mojo!
You must have been woken up on the wrong side of the bed Murat because facts that the THE WHOLE WORLD knows minus Turkey and all those who are bought or threatened by Turkey remain facts and myths that Turkey and her ilk believe remain myths..
Top of the morning to you…
Not the bed, Gayane: the wrong side of reality. A whole lot of them are trapped in an alternative Universe, but somehow can access the web on planet Earth. Amazing.
LOL.. Ain’t that the truth Avery jan… amazing indeed…
The French law by itself means little.
Seldom will any French court prosecute anyone for its violation, and such prosecutions, when they ocur, will incite sympathy for the Devil.
There is also the high risk that the ECHR will declare both this French law, along with the earlier Swiss one T-Nazi Dogu Preincek challenges, along with 301, invalid. We should not view these occurrences as defeats if they occur.
We celebrate the law because it represents the first time in several years that a western nation stood up to Turkey on the issue, and refused to run away from a bully with imperial memories and aspirations. The passage of the law, by itself, is victory enough for me.
The Turks will some day stop defending the OE. They make it an issue of honor only because the choose to do so. They should, if rational, distance themselves from the events of five generations ago.
Why do they not? Why ally themselves with murderers and thieves?
Because they see themselves as a superior race. Their “honor,” like that of other imperial nations carries with it an element of racism over the subjugated peoples. They hate having a dhimmi people speak up. I think that is what this is all about. So much of their imagery is full of deep hatred and victimhood, its amazing.
right on the point JDA…
Turkey is and will be the epitomy of hatred and racial discrimination for a long time unless the West punishes her like and stops tip toeing around her. West need to follow what French did (again does not matter what the agenda behind the passing of this law was).. The mere action of passing the law despite the threats from Turkey shows French had some balls UNLIKE other countries who are still afraid of Turkey.. .
Murat and those who claim that the French law means little and the facts remain facts.
I’m afraid it’s not going to be like that. The myriad of Turkish and Azeri internet sites which promote denialism and fume racism at great scale will be forbidden and will not have free reign anymore.
Very few cases of prosecution on de ground of such articles so far do not show that they have “incited sympathy for the Devil”.
jda
If the ECHR had the guts to do what you say it would have long ago declared article 301 invalid. If the article would ever have been repealed there would actually be no need for the Franch law.
Chere Seervart,
Though I can speak French a bit and write also,but not quite so well as to write here to you in French,a few short sentences’ perhaps.
W/rgd to you query as to my ¨´suggested¨visions if you will or plans,take your choice as to REPATRIATION ,please go to web site…
http://www.armeniannews.info …where I post mym articles it is to the top left hand side of the WEB Site(nice Armenian Young men in CA…owners) marked Users Articles and read my articles there.I have explained in detail THE PLAN.
Je vous merci et a toute allors ,
Cordialement,
Gaytzag
[...] noting that it’s not directed against any specific country—that it is merely an effort to honor the memory of genocide victims and the struggle against hate [...]
We again thank the French Parliament for the punishment of those whom don’t recognize the well documented Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. My parents whom lived the Provences of Shabin KaraHissar & Erzerum lost not only their parents but their former wives and all their children and many of their relatives. My mother was the only survivor from her village of Gote. She had two children whom they bayoneted and died and the other died from hunger after 13 days on a death march. My mother survived because of Missionaires whom took her in. We thank Avery for his excellent answer back to those Turks whom shoud read up on the true history of what the Seljuk Turks, the Mongol Turks, & the Ottomon Turks did to Christian Populations of not only Asia Minor, but in Europe, Middle East & Northern Africa. The world must stand up to the Turkish state.
There is little left to say. The denial of the Armenian Genocide is ridiculous given all the coverage from so many survivors and media, journalists from other countries, etc. I guess today’s “Turk” has nothing else to do. The phrase “me thinks they doth protest too much” applies here.
Turks did the genocide its just they changed the history and they teach their kids that not turks but Armenians did the genocide,, turks kill more then 1.5 million Armenians. Armenians are very thankful that countries like FRACNE understand what turks did was double killing.