Turkey threatens to impose “permanent” sanctions against France if the Senate approves a bill to criminalize denying the Armenian genocide

Turkey threatens to impose “permanent” sanctions against France if the Senate approves a bill to criminalize denying the Armenian genocide. Following the Turkish threat, Paris appealed to Ankara for calm, stressing the latter is an important ally. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told FRANCE 24 channel that the proposed law was an affront to freedom of expression that would make him a criminal for openly discussing the genocide.

“If I am asked a question by a journalist, how could I remain silent?” he asked. “This bill would punish me for having an opinion on an historical event. It goes against all European and French values of freedom of expression.”

The Senate was due to vote on Monday to approve a bill that was passed by the lower National Assembly last month.
The draft law would outlaw any public denial of genocides recognized by the French state, including the so-called Holocaust of the Second World War as well as the Armenian genocide.

For its part, France appealed to Turkey for calm saying Ankara was an important ally of Paris.
"We appeal for calm," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told journalists.
"Turkey is a very important partner and ally of France," he said, with senators due to vote on the diplomatically fraught bill later Monday.