Looks like Turkey won't be joining the EU after all...

[Andres]

I hope this law will be contested in front of the European Court of Human Rights.

I wonder if it will pass the test of article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

ARTICLE 10
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. this right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.
The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or the rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

[Keba]

Article 10 is vaguely worded ... this law can be crammed in under the protection of morals.

Oh, and ... that's weird, what the hell has France got to do with the Armenian holcaust that makes them put it up?

[Spino]

Article 10 is vaguely worded ... this law can be crammed in under the protection of morals.

Oh, and ... that's weird, what the hell has France got to do with the Armenian holcaust that makes them put it up?

It might be because there are elements within the French government that do not wish to see Turkey become a member of the EU. Legislation like this is a nice way of saying, "You're not welcome here!"

[Petrus]

It might be because there are elements within the French government that do not wish to see Turkey become a member of the EU. Legislation like this is a nice way of saying, "You're not welcome here!"

This has nothing to do with France or with the french government.

Many French citizens have Armenian ancestors.

In some places, a significant number of voters can be of Armenian origin.

Some members of parliament think they can buy those votes by making inept laws about the genocide of the Armenians.

This law was proposed by the minority – the opposition - in parliament.

The majority, fearing the loss of the supposed Armenian vote, did not take part to the vote of this law, so it passed.

What motivated this law has nothing to do with turkey, Armenia or the defence of the memory of the victims of this genocide, it is just a political manoeuvre to try to gain some votes.

Crappy local politics, nothing more.

[Dooz]

Seems most people are against this legislation for the Armenian Genocide, yet don't have near as much of a problem with similar laws for Holocaust denial. Quite interesting, wonder why that is.

[Spino]

Seems most people are against this legislation for the Armenian Genocide, yet don't have near as much of a problem with similar laws for Holocaust denial. Quite interesting, wonder why that is.

Because the lobby promoting one is larger and more powerful than the lobby promoting the other. Much like the marketplace the key to selling any idea in a democratic governing body is aggressive and selective advertising.

[King Henry V]

Seems most people are against this legislation for the Armenian Genocide, yet don't have near as much of a problem with similar laws for Holocaust denial. Quite interesting, wonder why that is.

I think you'll find that those who argue against Holocaust denial legislation here are the same who do not support the Armenian genocide bill.

[Spino]

This has nothing to do with France or with the french government.

Many French citizens have Armenian ancestors.

In some places, a significant number of voters can be of Armenian origin.

Some members of parliament think they can buy those votes by making inept laws about the genocide of the Armenians.

This law was proposed by the minority – the opposition - in parliament.

The majority, fearing the loss of the supposed Armenian vote, did not take part to the vote of this law, so it passed.

What motivated this law has nothing to do with turkey, Armenia or the defence of the memory of the victims of this genocide, it is just a political manoeuvre to try to gain some votes.

Crappy local politics, nothing more.

I fail to see how this has nothing to do with France or the French government. Armenians may be an ethnic minority in France but the ethnic French majority in parliament, through its abstention in the voting process, enabled the law to pass. Whether the majority actively supported the legislation or not they clearly knew their inaction would allow it to pass, thus ruffling Turkey's feathers. It does not matter one bit whether the French government actively supported the law or not because when it comes to human psychology, silence is often mistaken for acceptance.

[Duke Malcolm]

So, let's be clear now...
Is it the France's direct snub to Turkey?
Is it the France pandering to the Armenian minority?
Is it the France's Armenian minority in a direct snub to Turkey?
Is it the France's indirect snub to Turkey by inaction after the France's Armenian minority in a direct snub to Turkey?

It is not liked by the Government of the Fifth Republic. Surely the President and/or Senate thereof shall simply reject it and sweep the matter under the carpet?

[Petrus]

I fail to see how this has nothing to do with France or the French government. Armenians may be an ethnic minority in France but the ethnic French majority in parliament, through its abstention in the voting process, enabled the law to pass. Whether the majority actively supported the legislation or not they clearly knew their inaction would allow it to pass, thus ruffling Turkey's feathers. It does not matter one bit whether the French government actively supported the law or not because when it comes to human psychology, silence is often mistaken for acceptance.

What i (try to) mean is that this law is pointless and that it does not reflect a french political objective.

If the promoters of this law thought some persons love to paint their face in green, they would have prepared a law requiring a green paint seller in every street, free green paint for the poor and you would have seen them in tv shows claiming with shining eyes the inalterable right of every human being to have its face painted in green and the necessity to have a law to protect green painted face persons.

This is demagogy and self promotion, this is not a political trend.