Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
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PRESS RELEASE
January 19, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA EXPRESSES OUTRAGE OVER ASSASSINATION OF
HRANT DINK
Calls on Turkey to End Denial of Armenian Genocide
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America was shocked and
appalled to learn of the tragic murder of one of the most prominent
Armenian voices in Turkey, Hrant Dink, who was gunned down outside his
newspaper office in Istanbul, Turkey, in what was a blatant political
assassination. Dink was frequently and unfairly targeted by Turkish
nationalists who labeled him a "traitor" for his public statements on
the Armenian Genocide.
The Assembly condemns the Turkish authorities for their failure to
provide a safer political environment for Armenians in Turkey, despite
repeated calls from the United States, the European Union and human
rights groups urging Ankara to improve conditions for minorities in the
country. Turkey is currently home to some 60,000 Armenians.
The Assembly also remains deeply troubled by Ankara’s refusal to heed
international calls to abolish Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code,
which stifles freedom of speech and criminalizes public discussion of
the Armenian Genocide. Hrant Dink himself stood trial several times for
his public comments on the genocide and was convicted in October 2006
for "insulting Turkishness" under the much-criticized law. He received
a six-month suspended sentence and was set to appear in court again in
March 2007 for telling a foreign journalist that the events of 1915
constituted genocide.
When prosecutors in Istanbul announced the new "denigration" charges,
Amnesty International expressed dismay, saying "the organization
considers that this prosecution is part of an emerging pattern of
harassment against the journalist exercising his right to freedom of
expression – a right which Turkey, as a State Party to the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has a legal
obligation to uphold."
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), "in the last 15
years, 18 other Turkish journalists have been killed for their work,
making [Turkey] the eighth deadliest country in the world for
journalists." CPJ research further shows that "journalists, academic,
and others have been subjected to pervasive legal harassment for
statements that allegedly insult the Turkish identity."
"It is past time for Turkey to reform its laws and take serious steps to
protect the rights of all its citizens," said Assembly Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "No other human being in Turkey should have
to pay the price with his life for his government’s lack of resolve to
uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights."
The Armenian Assembly also calls on the United States, as a world
leader, to end the vicious cycle of genocide denial in Turkey by
adopting a congressional resolution reaffirming this fact of world
history.
Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly, said that
"sadly 92 years after the start of the Armenian Genocide, Hrant Dink is
now the latest victim of Turkey’s outrageous campaign of denial and
intolerance."
"In light of this terrible tragedy, it is all the more inappropriate for
the Administration to oppose congressional reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide," added Hovnanian.
"In memory of Hrant Dink, we reaffirm our commitment to fight for
universal reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide," Hovnanian continued.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2007-009
Editor’s Note: For more information, please see the attached fact sheet
provided by the Armenian National Institute.