Turkish woman fined by French court for rejecting Armenian Genocide

January 7, 2010 - 16:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish origin French citizen Sirma Oran-Martz, the daughter of publicist Baskin Oran, had applied to French Courts when she was asked if she recognizes the Armenian Genocide, during the period of her candidacy in the local elections.

Refusing to recognize the Genocide, Sirma Oran-Martz had resigned from the candidacy and applied to the French Court, complaining that she was exposed to discrimination because she is Turkish origin, TURKISHNY reported.

On January 6, Turkish woman was found guilty under French Criminal Code for rejecting the Genocide. French Court of Lyons fined Sirma Oran with 1500 Euros.

Commenting on the decision of the French court, Sirma Oran stated that the decision is "disgraceful" and said that she will apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

In 2001, France publicly adopted the law on recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, to be executed as a law of the state.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.