Perinçek tests court-sanctioned freedom of speech

With the support of his government, recently exonerated Turkish politician Doğu Perinçek addressed media at the Turkish consulate in Zurich with provocative rhetoric, blaming the United States for terror attacks in Europe and calling for revisions to the Swiss penal code. According to a report by Swiss newspaper NZZ, Perinçek – chairman of the Turkish Patriotic Party – claimed during Tuesday’s press conference at the consulate that recent terror attacks in Paris, Brussels, Berlin and Turkey have been “all steered from the same place: the US is behind these events". He claimed that the US incited the attacks because it wants to divide Turkey and reject a strong Europe. Perinçek also expressed support for a new initiative filed by Swiss parliamentarian Yves Nidegger, which requests a modification to the Swiss penal code that would strike out the mention of genocide, or at least require that it be “verified by a competent court.” The proposed penal modification comes ...