Regnum, Russia
Jan 19 2007
Editor of Armenian-language newspaper (Turkey) shot in central
Istanbul
On January 19, editor of Akos Armenian-language newspaper (Turkey)
Hrant Dink was shot in central Istanbul. In the afternoon,
unidentified persons fired at Dink point-blank. Hrant Dink died of
wounds on the site of attack. No official reaction on the attack from
Turkish authorities has been received yet.
Hrant Dink was repeatedly besieged by Turkish courts for `offending
Turkish identity’ and was subjected to repressions by Turkish
authorities. In particular, Dink wrote in Akos newspaper that
`Turkish hostility poisons blood of Armenians,’ for which he was
tried in July 2005 `for insulting national dignity of the Turks.’
Hrant Dink was awarded Oxfam Novib prize for reporters subjected to
repressions in their countries. Dink was given the award for being
sentenced for publications on the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire. He was also tried for his critical publications about his
trials.
The European Parliament in its time expressed concern with sentencing
Hrant Dink for `offending Turkish identity.’
Hrant Dink was born in Malatya (Western Armenia) on September 15,
1954. In 1961, together with his family he moved to Istanbul. Since
1996, starting from the day of founding, he was editor-in-chief of
Akos newspaper.