FRANCE

The bill criminalizing the denial of crimes against humanity like the Armenian Genocide is passed by the French Parliament on October 14, by a vote of 156 for and 146 against. The bill will carry a penalty of imprisonment for one year or a fine of 45,000 euros for the denial or trivialization of crimes such as genocide, slave trade and war crimes.

In Nice, during Bastille Day celebrations, a truck rammed the crowd gathered for the celebrations. In the attack, 84 people were killed and 100 people were injured. It is claimed that the attacker is a 31-years-old French citizen of Tunisia origin.

On January 28, the annual dinner of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France was held in Paris. Speaking at the event, French President Hollande said that they are revising the genocide denial law.

A case referred to French Constitutional Court was widely covered in Turkish media, after some Turks and Armenians became parties to the case. We talked to Philippe Kalfayan, international law scholar and former Secretary General of International Human Rights Federation.

Far-right National Front (FN) lost on the second round of the regional elections after being the leading party on the first one. Republicans triumphed with the support of the left-wing voters.

French Parliament sent the bill that considers the denial of genocide as an offense to the committee for re-discussion.