The Armenian genocide and freedom of speech

October 15, 2006

It was recently announced that the Nobel Literature prize will be awarded to Orhan Pamuk. Although the prize is given for his literary accomplishments, it will also be seen as a political choice — sending a signal to Turkey that has prosecuted him for “offending Turkishness” because of his statements on the Armenian genocide. In Turkey it is forbidden to acknowledge that a genocide took place. So this prize will be seen a strong statement supporting freedom of speech. And I personally agree, that such laws — restricting the freedom of speech — should not be allowed in a (potential) EU country.

But ironically enough, the French parliament recently adopted a law that would make it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide. Now this is of course also a signal to Turkey - but one that restricts the freedom of speech in a current EU country just as harshly! This must be seen as extreme hypocrisy in Turkey. Personally I agree that denying the Armenian genocide is wrong, but expressing such a view — or opposing — should not be against the law. Pamuk himself, as an honest intellectual, is naturally opposed to the French law. Freedom of speech should apply not only to views that we like, but also those that we do not like, otherwise it has no point!