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| Turkey moves to change speech law | Turkey moves to change speech law |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The Turkish government says it will change a controversial law restricting freedom of expression. | The Turkish government says it will change a controversial law restricting freedom of expression. |
| Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said a new bill would be put before the Turkish parliament in the coming days. | Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said a new bill would be put before the Turkish parliament in the coming days. |
| The law, known as Article 301, bans perceived insults to Turkish identity or the country's institutions. | The law, known as Article 301, bans perceived insults to Turkish identity or the country's institutions. |
| It has often been invoked by nationalists against those who argue the Ottoman empire committed genocide against Armenians. | It has often been invoked by nationalists against those who argue the Ottoman empire committed genocide against Armenians. |
| Earlier on Tuesday the European Commission said restrictions on freedom of expression were blocking Turkey's progress towards EU membership. | Earlier on Tuesday the European Commission said restrictions on freedom of expression were blocking Turkey's progress towards EU membership. |
| "It is not acceptable that writers, journalists, academics and other intellectuals... are prosecuted for simply expressing a critical but completely non-violent opinion," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said. | "It is not acceptable that writers, journalists, academics and other intellectuals... are prosecuted for simply expressing a critical but completely non-violent opinion," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said. |
| "The infamous Article 301 must be repealed or amended without delay," he added. | "The infamous Article 301 must be repealed or amended without delay," he added. |
| Nobel-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk and Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink were both prosecuted under the law for their comments on the mass killings of Armenians. | |
| Hrant Dink was shot dead outside his Istanbul office in January 2007 and his murder revived a debate about the law. | |
| Many said his prosecution under Article 301 made him a target for radical nationalists. |