French National Assembly Sends Genocide Denial Bill to Special Committee

PARIS — The National Assembly of France voted today to send the bill on criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial proposed by MP Valérie Boyer back to the Justice Commission for continued debates. The decision was made on grounds that more time was needed to make the text more precise.

The proposed bill prohibits the denial of genocides and crimes against humanity that were committed in the 20th century, especially the denial of the Armenian Genocide. “It is time for France to take the responsibility which it has in the protection of democracy. I hope that Parliament MPs will be united during voting on draft,” Boyer expressed hope at the beginning of the discussion.

A bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide was adopted by the French Parliament (December 22, 2011) and Senate (January 23, 2012); it was, however, declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional council of the country on February 29, 2012. A month later, France’s Constitutional Council overturned the bill.