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Prosecutors seek fine for Turkish politician who denied Armenian genocide
AP Worldstream
Published: Mar 08, 2007
Prosecutors asked a Swiss police court Thursday to fine a Turkish
politician 3,000 Swiss francs (US$2,450; A1,870) for denying that the
killing of Armenians in the early 20th century was genocide.
Dogu Perincek, the leader of the Turkish Workers' Party, was charged
with breaking a Swiss law by rejecting that the World War I-era
killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians amounted to genocide during a
visit to Switzerland in 2005.
He has since repeated his claim, including at his trial earlier this
week.
The case is seen as a test of whether denying that the Turks committed
genocide is a violation of Swiss anti-racism legislation. The law has
previously been applied to Holocaust denial.
Prosecutors also sought a suspended fine of 9,000 francs (US$7,360;
A5,600). A decision in the trial, which has strained Swiss-Turkish
relations, is expected on Friday.
AP Worldstream
Published: Mar 08, 2007
Prosecutors asked a Swiss police court Thursday to fine a Turkish
politician 3,000 Swiss francs (US$2,450; A1,870) for denying that the
killing of Armenians in the early 20th century was genocide.
Dogu Perincek, the leader of the Turkish Workers' Party, was charged
with breaking a Swiss law by rejecting that the World War I-era
killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians amounted to genocide during a
visit to Switzerland in 2005.
He has since repeated his claim, including at his trial earlier this
week.
The case is seen as a test of whether denying that the Turks committed
genocide is a violation of Swiss anti-racism legislation. The law has
previously been applied to Holocaust denial.
Prosecutors also sought a suspended fine of 9,000 francs (US$7,360;
A5,600). A decision in the trial, which has strained Swiss-Turkish
relations, is expected on Friday.