Turkey Threatens France with New Sanctions over Genocide Bill

France`s upper house of parliament will vote on a bill to outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide. File photo by BGNES

Ankara is prepared to continue its measures against France if the French Senate passes a bill criminalizing the denial of the genocide against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.

"Turkey will continue to implement sanctions as long as this bill remains in motion," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters ahead of the debate, expressing his hope that "common sense" will reign in the French Senate.

Turkish officials have claimed that the bill would compromise freedom of expression in France.

MPs in the French lower house approved the bill last month, leading to a crisis in the country's diplomatic relations with Turkey.

Senators from both the ruling conservative UMP party, as well as opposition Socialists, have indicated that they will vote in favour of the bill which is expected to be passed, according to France 24.

If the bill passes the French Senate, people who deny that the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I constituted genocide will face a one-year jail term and a fine of up to EUR 45 000.

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