New Genocide Denial Criminalization Law in the Works in France

French Parliment Member Valerie Boyer

PARIS—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.