A Senate committee in France has rejected the “Armenian Genocide bill” – a bill passed last month by France’s Lower House. If approved, the law would make it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail and a 45,000 euro (about $57,000) fine applicable to anyone who denied any genocide – including the Armenian Genocide – which has been officially recognized by France.

By a vote of 23-9 (eight abstentions), the Senate’s Laws Commission rejected the bill Wednesday.

The rejection by the commission, however, does not stop the bill from going to a full vote of the Senate on January 23. According to media speculation, most Senators who oppose the bill are expected to abstain from the vote, allowing it to pass on to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has said he will sign the bill into law.