Turks Remember Hrant Dink

It seems like yesterday but it has indeed been more than a year since Hrant Dink was assassinated in Turkey. Here is an excerpt from a BBC article:

At a short ceremony led by Mr Dink's close friends and family, crowds of people marked his murder at 1457 (1257 GMT) on 19 January 2007 with a moment of silence outside the offices of the Agos newspaper.

The trial, which began in July, is being held behind closed doors because the alleged gunman, Ogun Samast, is 17 years old.

Mr Dink's family has accused the authorities of collusion, and the court is also considering allegations of a cover-up.

Shouldn't something as crucial as this trial, at least to Turkey's future as a member of the EU, be highly public so that the entire world can see whether justice is being served or merely covered up? This simply inspires more due suspicion from the Armenians, Turks, and the world at large.

Turkey to Change Article 301 Laws

This certainly won't bring Hrant Dink back nor return to Orhan Pamuk the time he lost overseas.

Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said a new bill would be put before the Turkish parliament in the coming days. The law, known as Article 301, bans perceived insults to Turkish identity or the country's institutions.

It has often been invoked by nationalists against those who argue the Ottoman empire committed genocide against Armenians. Earlier on Tuesday the European Commission said restrictions on freedom of expression were blocking Turkey's progress towards EU membership.

No, the Turks haven't decided to be decent: they just want to be a part of the EU really, really badly.

Source: BBC

Possible Imprisonment for Hrant Dink's Son

Will the madness ever stop?

The Istanbul prosecutor office urges up to 3 years of imprisonment for Arat Dink, the son of Hrant Dink. An action against Agos editor Arat Dink and his fellow Sargis Serobyan was brought for a repeated publication of Hrant Dink’s interview where he recognized the Armenian Genocide.

"The most absurd and dangerous is the fact that describing a historical event as 'genocide' is perceived as insulting Turkishness," Arat Dink said.

Absurd isn't quite the word I'd use to describe the laws and lack of freedoms in Turkey!

Source: PanArmenian

Nobel Laureates Agree: Armenia & Turkey Should Cooperate!

Too bad they're all wrong.

...the Nobel Prize winners call on the Turkish government to end up with discrimination towards national and religious minorities and cancel Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which supposes criminal punishment for "insulting Turkishness". Nobel Prize winners call on Armenia to "give opportunity for holding free and fair elections, as well as respect human rights." Alongside they urge Turkey to open borders with neighboring Armenia, speed up mutual contacts and establish full diplomatic relations

In particular, the [U.N.] Convention says, "events at the beginning of the 20th century contain all elements of Genocide, approved by the convention," the document underscores

A lot of the points are valid, but Turkey has a lot of work to do before the opening of the border can be discussed.

Source: Yerkir

Hrant Dink Legislation in Senate in March

Here's some more information:

The resolution, S.Res.65, specifically mentions that Hrant Dink "was prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide," and urges the Turkish government to repeal this anti-free speech law. It will be "marked up" by the Committee on Tuesday, March 6th at 2:15 p.m.

Given the government's pro-Turkey stance, what do you think will be the outcome of this attempt?

Source: PanArmenian

Orhan Pamuk to Return to Turkey

In case you have not heard of him, Orhan Pamuk is a Turkish writer and a Nobel Prize winner who has dared to talk about the Armenian Genocide. In fact, he was charged under Turkey's Penal Code Article 301, which if you remember calls for imprisonment for anyone who "insults Turkishness," though those charges were later dropped.

Turkish Sabah reports that Pamuk has already bought a ticket to return to Turkey by a plane to take off from New York in the evening of April 5th.

The newspaper also reminds that the Nobel Prize winner left Istanbul after Hrant Dink’s assassination departing for New York. Earlier Media reported that Pamuk, fearing for his life, has left Turkey withdrawing a large amount from his account. One of the suspects of Hrant Dink’s assassination has advised Orhan Pamuk "to think it over."

Here is a country which cannot offer its Nobel Prize winning writer the haven that he needs to produce works for Turkey, even if they speak against Turkey's longstanding policy of denial and manipulation. If you recall, Taner Akcam is another Turkish writer who has received much controversy because of his acceptance of the Armenian Genocide.

Source: Yerkir

Hrant Dink's Trial Continues

Yes, you read that correctly.

...after about three weeks after the assassination of Agos Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor Hrant Dink, the Sisli circuit court of Istanbul resumed legal proceeding against Dink, who was earlier accused of "insulting Turkishness" and handed a 6 months’ suspended sentence. The Turkish Court of Appeal agreed with the sentence but changed it stating that 15 people who brought in the suit can’t be considered plaintiffs, since the "insult" was not targeted at them.

...the Sisli court fulfilled the order of the Supreme Court and decreed that the individuals who took the action are not plaintiffs. However, a judge said that Dink’s death was not officially registered in the court records and postponed the hearing to June 14.

How long does it take to record one of the most heinous of assassinations in recent memory?

Source: PanArmenian

Hrant Dink Killed in Turkey

This is what we know so far:

A prominent Turkish-Armenian editor, convicted in 2005 of insulting Turkish identity, has been shot dead outside his newspaper's office in Istanbul. The US, EU and Armenia have condemned his murder and Turkey's leaders vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

"A bullet has been fired at democracy and freedom of expression," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a hastily convened news conference.

Dink was given a six-month suspended sentence in October 2005 after writing about the Armenian genocide of 1915. Dink was among dozens of writers in Turkey who have been charged under 301 of Turkey's penal code with insulting Turkish identity, often for articles dealing with the killing of Kurds and Ottoman Armenians.

This is a real tragedy and shows just how much Turkey has to change before it should even be considered as an ally of Armenia, the EU, or the world.

A big thanks to Sassna and Khoren for suggesting the story as it broke.

Source: BBC