I may not go to France again if 'genocide' bill passes: Erdoğan

Hürriyet Daily News

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has hinted he may not visit France again if a proposed bill that would criminalize the rejection of Armenian genocide claims passes in the country's Senate today. 

When asked what his reaction would be in the event the bill was approved by the French Senate, Erdoğan said that he may not go to France again if the bill is approved

Erdoğan said the proposed bill was against freedom of speech and was only a ploy for the coming elections in May.  

The prime minister said he hoped that the French Senate would not vote for a decision that conflicts with the country's history.

The contentious bill that was approved by the French Parliament in December penalizes the rejection of Armenian genocide claims with a 45,000-euro fine and one year in jail. The bill needs to be approved by the Senate before it can come into effect.