French deputy makes fresh attempt on ‘genocide’ denial bill

LYON – Doğan News Agency

Valerie Boyer. Hürriyet Photo

A French lawmaker who gained a reputation last year fiercely defending a bill criminalizing denial of the alleged Armenian genocide has made a fresh attempt to bring the bill to the forefront.

Valerie Boyer and five other lawmakers submitted the draft law to the French Parliament Feb. 6. The first article of the bill provides for two years of imprisonment or a fine of 45,000 euros for denial of the alleged genocide.

Last year a similar bill was approved by the French Senate at the request of Boyer. However, the French Constitutional Court ruled that the bill was anti-constitutional, citing its contradiction to the freedom of speech.