MP of Argentina Nilda Garre submits a bill criminalizing genocide denial

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. MP of Argentina Nilda Garre submitted a bill to criminalize denialism in Argentina this week, a project that would include the Armenian Genocide denial, Garre said in an interview with Prensa Armenia, reports “Armenpress”.

The project plans to include in the Criminal Code the criminalization to anyone who “publicly denied, minimized, justified and/or approved any form of genocide or crimes against humanity”.

The MP said the proposal claims to be compatible with freedom of expression “when justified in protecting the rights of victims, in maintaining public order or national security, or to prohibit the apology of hatred and violence”.

“The National Congress passed Law 26,199 in 2006 recognizing the genocide of which the Armenian people were victims. Consequently it is clear that this is included in the project we propose”, she said.

When asked about the recent visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to Argentina, she said: “I am not clear how Turkey could react. What I do know is that the Argentine Republic is a sovereign nation and the National Congress is the representation of one of its powers”.

Nilda Garre is a Deputy of the Front for Victory party. She was Minister of Defense , later Minister of Security.