This is one of the most ridiculous news stories out there, as of now. It is just a battle of wills between two countries, not an actual issue, at least not to this degree. This is not a topic that should be arguable about at all.
The story is France is just now choosing to pass a bill that can punish people with 45,000 euro fine or up to one year of jail time just for saying that they do not believe the Armenian massacre was genocide. Let’s be clear, this genocide happened in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire (no longer around), so I have no idea why it is such a pressing issue at this point in time. Sounds to me like France is just trying to be a dick, bringing up something that has yet to be proven (that it was an actual genocide) and so after the fact. Is it really a punishable crime to believe something different and express your view point? I know they have a large Armenian population who have been pushing for this bill, but it is most likely just because they know they don’t support the genocide. But honestly, how many people is this bill going to effect? How many people go out and speak negatively towards a mass amount of people being killed in the early 20th century? Surely this is not the most pressing issue in France. Not even touching on the fact that it violates free speech laws. Nonetheless, it was passed on December 22, 2011, and now it just has to go through the Senate.
But now, Turkey is retaliating. They are angry that anyone would even consider it genocide, let alone consider passing a law about it. Claiming that this will ruin their prestige and delay or stop the growing relationship with Armenia, Turkey is not willing to take this sitting down. They are fully prepared to boycott France goods and ruin the friendship they have been working on.
Most historians have embraced the fact that the Armenian killing were in fact a genocide, but not many people want to stand up to Turkey and risk a relationship with them. As shown by the cancellation of all political and military association with France, this would be a risky maneuver. I mean, they have completely kicked France out. Turkish Muslims actually suggest that this new law is a way for Sarkozy (president of France) to get some more votes from the far-right by playing on their Islamaphobia. Russia also states that the genocide was not really a genocide, but that the deaths were on both sides, with the factor of starvation accounting for most deaths.
Just in: Jan 23, 2011 is the date that the bill will be debated in the French Senate.
Sincerely Sydney
Most historians have embraced the fact that the Armenian killing were in fact a genocide, but not many people want to stand up to Turkey and risk a relationship with them. As shown by the cancellation of all political and military association with France, this would be a risky maneuver. I mean, they have completely kicked France out. Turkish Muslims actually suggest that this new law is a way for Sarkozy (president of France) to get some more votes from the far-right by playing on their Islamaphobia. Russia also states that the genocide was not really a genocide, but that the deaths were on both sides, with the factor of starvation accounting for most deaths.
Just in: Jan 23, 2011 is the date that the bill will be debated in the French Senate.
Sincerely Sydney
If you're interested in this, you might want to look further into European laws that criminalize Holocaust denial. Wikipedia's page is a good place to start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_against_Holocaust_denial
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