16 February 2010, 19:00
Turkish MPs worry of the fate of the Turks convicted in Switzerland for genocide negation
Members of the oppositional People's Republican Party of Turkey have brought a point to the parliament's agenda on the three Turks convicted in Switzerland for negating the genocide of Armenians.
According to Turkish sources, the oppositional MPs want to get explanations from the Premier on whether the Turkish state plans to defend the Turks convicted in Switzerland.
A week ago, three Turks were made criminally liable for denying the fact of genocide against Armenians. In Switzerland, such denial is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to 45,000 euros or by deprivation of liberty for up to one year.
Etkhem Kayal and Gasan Kemal, representing Turkish Kemalist unions, and Ali Merdzhan, a member of the Workers' Party, were convicted by the Swiss court to four months of imprisonment each. Then, the punishment was replaced for a total fine of 12,600 Swiss francs.
The convicts stated that the Turkish authorities had left them defenceless before the Swiss court.
A month ago the Dutch Internet edition De Dagelijksestandaard sacked one of its journalists for denying the genocide of Armenians in the times of the Ottoman Turkey and qualification of the 1915 events as deportation.
Switzerland is among the countries, which have recognized the 1915 genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan Source: CK correspondent
