IFEX, Canada
International Freedom of Express eXpress
Jan 19 2007
Journalist Hrant Dink shot dead outside his newspaper offices in
Istanbul
Country/Topic: Turkey
Date: 19 January 2007
Source: International Publishers’ Association (IPA)
Person(s): Hrant Dink
Target(s): journalist(s)
Type(s) of violation(s): killed
Urgency: Flash
(IPA/IFEX) – The following is an IPA press release:
IPA condemns the killing of the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink in Istanbul today.
Geneva, 19 January 2007 – According to sources in Istanbul,
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was the victim of an armed
assault. Apparently he was shot dead today by an 18-year-old man in
front of his newspaper offices, Agos.
Ana Maria Cabanellas, IPA President, declared: "IPA is outraged by
what has happened in Istanbul today. We urge the Turkish authorities
to lead all the necessary investigations so that those people can be
brought to justice who are responsible for this horrible."
Bjorn Smith-Simonsen, Chairman of the IPA Freedom to Publish
committee, paid tribute to the journalist: "IPA has been working for
many years with Hrant Dink. He was a free and courageous man; we will
miss him and the fight for freedom of expression will miss him."
Hrant Dink had been condemned under Article 301 of the Turkish penal
code for insulting Turkishness. At the time many came to his defence,
including EU Commissioner Olli Rehn. Perhaps this sad occasion will
serve as a reminder to the Turkish authorities to repeal the divisive
and idealogical Article 301 and all other provisions preventing
freedom of expression in Turkey.
The assassination of Hrant Dink demands that they finally proceed
with the repeal.