Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that labeling 1915 events as genocide is not considered a crime in Turkey.

A new section created on the website of Turkish foreign office answers the questions on Ankara’s foreign policy that are frequently asked. One of the answers reads: “It is possible to argue that Turkey is the only country, where the events of 1915 can be discussed in a free manner. In this vein, accusations stating that some persons who are exposed to legal investigation and prosecution do not reflect the truth. Thus, neither in article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, nor in any other part, there exists any provision towards the events of 1915. Accordingly, there is no one in Turkey now, who has been tried or prosecuted due to the reason that he / she described the events of 1915 as genocide. On the other hand, contrary to a number of countries, in whose legal systems there exist laws on “the punishment of denial of genocide”, books, articles and other publications which allege the events of 1915 as genocide are freely distributed whether in their original languages or published in Turkish translation.”

Nevertheless, the chief editor of Agos bilingual newspaper Hrant Dink, killed in 2007, was charged with article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for voicing statements regarding the Armenian Genocide.  Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk was also charged with the mentioned article after he said that 1 million Armenians were killed in Turkey in 1915. However, later the case was closed under pressure of international community.