Turkish nationalist to stand trial for Armenian Genocide denial in Switzerland

05.03.2007 17:40

YEREVAN (YERKIR) - Turkish nationalist, leader of the Turkish Labor Party Dogu Perincek will stand trial in Switzerland. The legal proceedings launched over violation of Swiss anti-racist law on the Armenian Genocide denial may cause tension in the Swiss-Turkish relations.

The news has already made a stir in Turkey, where nationalists, specifically members of the Talaat-pasha committee claim “it’s a process against Turkey.” Representatives of the Armenian Association of Switzerland said this trial may become a kind of “premiere”. They say rallies in Perincek’s support and attempts to threaten the Swiss authorities are also possible.

In September 2005 the Swiss law enforcement charged Dogu Perincek of violating the anti-racist law by denying the Armenian Genocide three times. Perincek called the Genocide “an international lie” during his speech in Bern and repeated the same words in Zurich.

According to the Swiss legislation, public denial or justification of the Armenian Genocide conflicts with the law and is viewed as a criminal deed. Dogu Perincek made a similar statement in May 2005 and also during an event dedicated to the 82nd anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty, reported PanARMENIAN.Net.

A criminal case was also initiated against chairman of the Turkish Association of Historians Yusuf Halacogly, who repeatedly denies the Armenian Genocide. Official Ankara is constantly censuring the Swiss government and the court decisions. The Swiss authorities, however, say the juridical system functions independently of the government.

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