Turkey: Freedom of expression/torture/prisoners of conscience

URGENT ACTION 121/05 Freedom of expression/torture/prisoners of conscience
PUBLIC AI Index: EUR 44/016/2005
13 May 2005

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New articles have been introduced which appear to introduce restrictions to fundamental rights. Article 305 of the new TPC criminalizes "acts against the fundamental national interest". The explanation attached to the draft, when the law was first presented to Parliament, provided as examples of such crimes, "making propaganda for the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from Cyprus or for the acceptance of a settlement in this issue detrimental to Turkey... or, contrary to historical truths, that the Armenians suffered a genocide after the First World War." Amnesty International considers that the imposition of a criminal penalty for any such statements - unless intended or likely to incite violence - would be a clear breach of international standards safeguarding freedom of expression.
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Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears on:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR440162005
Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...].The bold emphasis is mine.