Turkish deputy premier says French law contradicts freedom of thought

ROTTERDAM (A.A) - Turkish deputy premier said Friday that the French law penalizing the denial of Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents during Ottoman Empire period did not comply with the freedom of thought, and it meant that a kind of inquisition had risen again in France in the 21st century. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, who is currently visiting the Netherlands, visited Islamic University of Rotterdam and Islamic University of Europe. (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy's initiative on the French denial law was kind of an investment for upcoming presidential elections in France, he said. This law contradicted European values such as equality, justice and freedom, he said. Bozdag said, "now I say there is no genocide and it is a slander. Then would he punish me?" Thinking and thought were prohibited with this law, he said.  French Senate adopted a law which penalizes the denial of Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents during Ottoman Empire period. Under the law, people, who deny the Armenian allegations, are sentenced to one year in prison and 45,000 euro fine. On Tuesday, 77 senators and 65 parliamentarians in France applied to French Constitutional Council for the annulment of the law. The Council will announce its decision within a month. In regard to voting by Turkish citizens who were living abroad, Bozdag said citizens would be able to vote from countries where they were living after a draft law was enacted. "For example, Turkish citizens can vote for the presidential election that will be held in Turkey in 2014 from countries where they are living," he said.