New Genocide bill submitted to the French Parliament
11:38 29.12.2012
French Parliament Member Valerie Boyer, who spearheaded last year’s
effort to pass a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian
Genocide, submitted a new draft of the bill late last week.
The bill stipulates the introduction of amendments to the 1881 law on
freedom of press, setting legal foundation for countering racism and
denial of Genocide.
The bill envisions a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for denial
of crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, reported
the Paris-based Nouvelles d’Arménie.
After successful passage of the bill in the French Parliament last
December, on January 23, the French Senate passed the bill
criminalizing the Armenian Genocide.
Later, the French Constitutional Council ruled that the bill was
unconstitutional.
However, in July, French President Francois Hollande confirmed plans
for a new law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide with
representatives of the Armenian community.