Despite the threat of “permanent sanctions” from Ankara, France’s Senate late last night passed a bill that would criminalize the denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

With 127 votes in favour and 86 against, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has 15 days to approve the bill.

Immediately after the Senate vote on Monday night, Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin described it as a "total lack of respect" and a "great injustice" towards his country.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told FRANCE 24 that the proposed law was an affront to freedom of expression that would make anyone a criminal for openly discussing an “historical tragedy”.

“If I am asked a question by a journalist, how could I remain silent?” Davutoglu asked during an interview with FRANCE 24 prior to the passing. “This bill would punish me for having an opinion on an historical event. It goes against all European and French values of freedom of expression.”

Davutoglu said in the interview that the bill flies in the face of the right to freedom of expression.

“There should be no dogmas regarding history, but this bill imposes such a dogma,” he said.

He called on French intellectuals to come to the defense of “our mutual right to freedom of speech and expression.

Davutoglu also stressed that the bill would not assist the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

“We want to share our pain from WWI and have raised the offer to create an historical commission to look at these events,” he stated.

The bill was passed by the French National Assembly on December 23, prompting outrage in Turkey and the withdrawal of its ambassador from Paris.