RIGHTS
Date published: 27 December 2021 13:36
Modified On: 27 December 2021 13:41

Prosecutors seek investigation against HDP executives for statement on Armenian Genocide

If the minister of justice gives permission, the HDP executives will be investigated for "insulting the Turkish nation and the state."

İstanbul
Prosecutors seek investigation against HDP executives for statement on Armenian Genocide

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has prepared a summary of proceedings to investigate the members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Central Executive Committee over their remarks on the Armenian Genocide.

The prosecutors request permission from the Ministry of Justice to investigate the politicians for "insulting the Turkish nation and the state" as per article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Investigations under article 301 are subject to the justice minister's permission.

The HDP had released a statement on April 24 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

The statement "put the Turkish nation and the State of the Republic of Turkey under suspicion before history," according to the summary of proceedings.

Citing a 1948 UN convention, the prosecutors said the word "genocide" cannot be used to describe "tragic events before this date" and the genocide claims are false.

Nine of the 10 pages of the summary of proceedings lists the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) statements about freedom of expression, according to a report by the T24 news portal.

The ECtHR had previously ruled that it was freedom of expression to say that the events in 1915 were not a genocide, noted the prosecutors.

No political party in the parliament can do "action against the nation," they argued.

Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code

(1) A person who publicly degrades Turkish Nation, State of the Turkish Republic, Turkish
Grand National Assembly, the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial bodies of the State shall be sentenced a penalty of imprisonment for a term of six months to two years.
(2) A person who publicly degrades the military or security organisations shall be sentenced according to the provision set out in paragraph one.
(3) The expression of an opinion for the purpose of criticism does not constitute an offense.
(4) The conduct of an investigation into such an offence shall be subject to the permission of the Minister of Justice.

(RT/VK)

freedom of expression Article 301 Ministry of Justice hdp vk armenian genocide
https://bianet.org/haber/prosecutors-seek-investigation-against-hdp-executives-for-statement-on-armenian-genocide-255375
2024-05-20 01:00:16