France makes it illegal to deny Armenian Genocide by Turkey
By bostonphil
@bostonphil (4459)
United States
January 23, 2012 11:02pm CST
There has long been a dispute between Armenia and Turkey regarding The Armenian Genocide that began in 1915. Armenia claims that Turkey systematically murdered about one and a half million Armenians. Turkey denies this. I think that most political observers agree with Armenia.
It is a very sore point for Turkey. Now, France has made it illegal for anyone living in France to deny The Armenian Genocide. This is not going to sit well with Turkey and I wonder what is now going to transpire between Turkey and France.
I also have concerns about free speech. Has France gone too far in passing a law that makes it illegal for French citizens to deny The Armenian Genocide. What about Turks who live in France?
I see it getting very complicated. I think that we will be hearing more about this.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@knoodleknight18 (917)
• United States
24 Jan 12
I think Germany has similar laws regarding the holocaust. But I don't really see why France would be so involved in an issue that doesn't directly involve them. It seems a little over the top, and I don't see how it's gonna stop any genocide.
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
24 Jan 12
I wonder like yourself why France got involved in an issue that dos not seem to directly involve them. But I do not know that much about The Armenian genocide of 1915 and for some years afterwards.
France must have some very good reasons for passing this law.
I did some research on The Armenian Genocide and I believe that the conflict was based on religious differences. The Armenians were Christian and The Turks were Muslim.
Does that have something to do with France now passing this law? France is a traditional Christian nation with a very large Muslim population.
It should be interesting what will now transpire. I feel that France may have bitten off more than they can chew.
1 person likes this
@HawaiiGopher (1009)
• Belgium
25 Jan 12
I'm pretty sure France aided, and fought alongside, the Armenians in the 1920s.
Also, this is a deeply political calculation on Sarkozy's part. I don't think it's much of a secret to anyone that France doesn't want Turkey to enter the EU. Turkey's response to this simply makes them look like "genocide deniers," making it more difficult for them to join. Furthermore, there is the presence of an Armenian minority in France (and therefore potential votes). Presidential elections are just three months away in France. Many cynics just think he's trying to gain some "political brownie points."
1 person likes this
@HawaiiGopher (1009)
• Belgium
25 Jan 12
(For those who don't know the significance of the "1920s" decade: this was right after the Armenian genocide and around the time that Turkey was being created as a new, independent state.)
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
25 Jan 12
Well the Turks did massacred a considerable part of the ARmenian population so you cannot deny that. I would gather that many of the Armenians who survived emigrated to France and they do not want the people to forget. And they are getting sick and tired of a large number of French people they meet, saying "it did not happen."
As long as there is honest reporting and no one is put in jail or lost his job for saying ":The Turks in 1915 massacred the Armenians." tere is no need for a law like this.
So obviously there is something behind this.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
25 Jan 12
I think that Turkey denies The Armenian Genocide but I think that most historians believe that Turkey did.
There is major conflict between Armenia and Turkey over this even to this day. If I were Armenian, I would appreciate France taking such action. If I were Turkish, I would have a different viewpoint.
There are more than two sides to this story. I am wanting to learn more.
I also am interested in why France passed a law making it illegal to deny The Armenian Genocide.
