Cambodian lawmakers on Tuesday approved a draft law making it illegal to deny or justify the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime, including genocide, during its brutal rule in the 1970s.

The ultra-communist movement, led by Pol Pot, was responsible for the deaths of about two million people through starvation, forced labor, torture, and mass executions between 1975 and 1979.

Strict Penalties for Denial
The draft legislation, similar to Germany’s law against Holocaust denial, still requires approval from the Senate and King Norodom Sihamoni, but both are considered formalities.

All 115 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, voted in favor of the bill, which aims to "provide justice for victims and prevent a repeat of past atrocities," according to a statement from the National Assembly.

Under the new law:
 Denial or justification of Khmer Rouge crimes can lead to 1 to 5 years in prison.
 Offenders face fines ranging from $2,500 to $125,000.
 The bill covers genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, which were prosecuted by a UN-backed tribunal in 2018.

Political Context and Criticism
The law was pushed by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades before stepping down in 2023 in favor of his son, Hun Manet.

Hun Sen, himself a former Khmer Rouge cadre, had previously enacted a 2013 law banning the denial of Khmer Rouge crimes, but he demanded a stronger version last May, claiming some politicians still refused to acknowledge the genocide.

Critics, including human rights groups, argue that Hun Sen has a history of using legal measures to silence political opposition, raising concerns that the law could be misused for political purposes.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen has also called for another law to label anyone attempting to overthrow his son's government as "terrorists."

Global Precedent
Several European nations, including Germany, Austria, and France, have similar laws criminalizing the denial of Adolf Hitler’s genocide, which killed six million Jews during World War II.

As Cambodia prepares to mark 50 years since the Khmer Rouge takeover in April, the new law reaffirms the country’s commitment to preserving historical truth and seeking justice for victims.