AZG Armenian Daily #010, 20/01/2007

STATEMENT

ARTICLE 19 STATEMENT ON THE KILLING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN JOURNALIST
HRANT DINK

ARTICLE 19- Global Campaign for Free Expression expresses its deep
shock and sadness over the killing of Armenian-Turkish journalist
Hrant Dink. A Turkish citizen of Armenian descent, Mr Dink was the
editor of the bilingual Armenian -Turkish weekly Agos and one of the
most profound commentators on Armenian – Turkish relations and the
life of Armenian community in Turkey. Mr Dink was one of the most
outspoken critics of Turkey’s actions between 1915 to 1923 when
hundreds of thousands of Turkey’s Armenian population were killed or
driven out of the country. Increasingly, these events are being
referred to as the Armenian genocide by a range of international and
state actors.

Mr Dink had received several threats for his public statements and his
writing on this topic and was regarded as a `traitor’ by extreme
nationalist groups within Turkey.

"Today is a sad day for human rights and freedom of expression in
Turkey and elsewhere in the world. ARTICLE 19 is profoundly shocked
by the silencing of such a critical voice for Turkey’s political and
cultural life. The Turkish authorities must do everything in their
power to investigate and prosecute those responsible at all levels."
says Dr. Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19 executive director.

Dr Callamard adds: "The Turkish authorities must also take a very hard
look at their own role: Their failure to repel Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code, the continuing use of this Article and other
provisions to prosecute writers, journalists and others that dare
speak out on taboo topics, and the authorities’ public criticism of
these voices: all of these contribute to creating an environment that
legitimises attacks on freedom of expression, including attacks of a
most violent and deadly nature."

The events of 1915-1923 remains one of the most forbidden subjects in
Turkey and a number of journalists, academicians and writers have been
on trial, charged with violating Article 301 of the Penal Code which
prohibits a range of criticisms. In October 2005 Mr. Dink was
convicted of contravening Article 301 and received a six-month
suspended sentence for "insulting the Turkish identity".

ARTICLE 19 calls upon the Turkish authorities to:

– Take all measures necessary to investigate and prosecute those
responsible for the murder of Mr Dink

– Take all measures necessary to protect members of its population
against acts of violence, threats, intimidation, perpetrated by
non-state actors: provision of an environment where free and open
discussion over difficult issues is a positive obligation of the
state.

– Repeal Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, along with all other
provisions that can be used to suppress the rights as enshrined under
Article 19 of the ICCPR and Article 10 of the ECHR, as a demonstration
that it will not tolerate attacks against freedom of expression.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress