Turkey reforms controversial law

[4me2]

Turkey reforms controversial law


Calls for reform to the law have grown since the 2007 murder of Hrant Dink



Turkey's parliament has approved the softening of a law criticised by the EU for limiting free speech.
Article 301 of the penal code has been used to prosecute Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and other intellectuals.
Since 2003, hundreds of people have been tried under the controversial law for "insulting Turkishness".
However, critics argue the amendments do not go far enough. Insulting the Turkish nation will still be a crime, punishable by two years in jail.
Parliament voted 250-65 in favour of a government-backed proposal to make changes to the law late on Tuesday night.
Under the reformed law:

• It will be a crime to insult the Turkish nation, rather than Turkishness.
• The justice minister will be required to open each case.
• The maximum sentence will be two years in jail, rather than three.

The EU has long called for changes to Article 301, arguing that the law places severe restrictions on free speech in Turkey. The issue has threatened to scupper Turkey's EU accession talks. Demands for the repeal or reform of the law had been growing since the murder last year of the outspoken newspaper editor, Hrant Dink, who had been charged under the law.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7374665.stm

[yankee]

About time, but still not enough. If they ever let Turkey ascend god help Europe.

[XBOX4LIFE]

UK should do the same imo...

[Thrush]

UK should do the same imo...

What? Stop talking bollocks.

[XBOX4LIFE]

What? Stop talking bollocks.

Should of been a bit more specific,we should adopt 1 bit
"It will be a crime to insult the Turkish nation, rather than Turkishness."
It should be a crime to insult the British nation,
many a time have I seen people spouting bollox and hatred about this country then going to there Paid for house while raping our health & benefit service.. Feck em, Jail em, rape em then throw em out IMO

[Hodge20001]

Should of been a bit more specific,we should adopt 1 bit
"It will be a crime to insult the Turkish nation, rather than Turkishness."
It should be a crime to insult the British nation,
many a time have I seen people spouting bollox and hatred about this country then going to there Paid for house while raping our health & benefit service.. Feck em, Jail em, rape em then throw em out IMO

snap

[Thrush]

Ah ok that is clearer however, I don't think we should have a law that restricts freedom of speech, except where it involves a movement of violence... errr yea.

[mattress]

Please don't let these fuckers in the EU