As other bloggers and chroniclers of Western political and social decay have noted, there is no first amendment in Europe. Today controversy swarms over the French National Assembly, amidst efforts by the opposition Socialist Party, to pass legislation which would impose severe penalties for anyone who denies the Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

While there is some doubt as to the scale of the killings, there is no question that many Armenian Christians were killed during this period. Nonetheless, the question of whether or not such an event took place is of no consequence, what is disturbing is the cavalier attitude with which these French politicians have with regard to an individuals inherent freedom of expression. If passed the new French law would impose a 1 year jail sentence and a 45,000-euro fine for those who are convicted of violated to genocide denial law.

In Turkey, which aspires to join the European Union, there is outrage and threats of worsening relations over the passage of this law. In Turkey there is no love loss for the concept of freedom of expression. In Turkey to acknowledge that a slaughter of Armenians took place is punishable just as to deny it may be punishable in France. France as a champion of human rights and an advocate for the UN model finds itself in violation of that organization’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines freedom of speech as a fundamental right.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

This new endeavor is but the latest in a serious of initiatives on the part of the French government to deny basic freedoms to its populace. To undermine both thought and expression as in this case is the very antithesis of supporting human rights, but greatly advances the cause of slavery.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6045838.stm