Washington File, DC
Jan 27 2007
Killing of Turkish Editor Termed Assault on Free Expression
United States, world community condemn murder of journalist Hrant
Dink
By Eric Green
USINFO Staff Writer
U.S. Undersecretary of State R. Nicholas Burns. (File photo; © AP
Images)Washington — The United States and the world community say
the assassination of independent Turkish journalist Hrant Dink
strikes a blow against freedom of expression.
In condemning Dink’s January 19 murder in Istanbul, Julie Finley, the
U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE), said the assassination of an independent-minded
journalist like Dink is `an assault that is felt by all.’ Finley
said the United States welcomed Turkey’s `quick and proper reaction’
and promise to solve the murder case as quickly as possible.
Finley added that Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was right in
characterizing the murder as a `repugnant and shameful attack’ that
`deeply wounded’ Turkey.
Sezer’s wish that Turkey `never experience such a sorrowful event
again’ is the United States’ wish as well, said Finley. She added
that the United States applauded the `new gestures of openness’
between Turkish and Armenian authorities in response to the
assassination.
In an interview with Mehmet Ali Birand of the Turkish television
station Kanal D January 19, Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas
Burns called Dink’s murder "an outrageous act of criminality."
"We look forward to see Turkish justice and we look forward to see
these killers brought to justice," he said. (See related article.)
At a January 23 memorial service in Washington for Dink, U.S.
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel
Fried said the slain journalist `stood for a civic virtue higher than
hatred, higher than ethnic stereotypes, higher than fears and
repression and ignorance. His was a vision of a better world. His was
a vision of the best in Turkey’s tradition. The measure of how our
world falls short must be judged by his murder at the hands of an
ignorant, hate-filled nationalist.’
Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE representative on freedom of the media,
said January 19 he was shocked by Dink’s murder.
Dink was one of Turkey’s `outstanding commentators on
Armenian-community related affairs," said Haraszti, adding that `this
is a cowardly act resulting in tragic loss."
The editor and columnist of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly
Agos, was gunned down outside his paper’s offices.
PRESS FREEDOM GROUPS UNITED IN CONDEMNATION
The Paris-based press freedom advocacy group, Reporters Without
Borders, said Dink was outspoken in his views regarding the massacre
of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The
organization said Dink’s murder `will distress and disturb all those
who defend the freedom of thought and expression in Turkey and
elsewhere.’ The Ottoman Empire was a vast Turkish state that existed
from 1299 to 1922.
Dink’s murder follows a report by Reporters Without Borders that more
journalists were killed around the world in 2006 than in any year
since 1994. At least 81 journalists were killed in 21 countries
while doing their jobs in 2006. (See related article.)
Reflecting on the dangers facing journalists worldwide, Karen Hughes,
the State Department’s under secretary of state for public diplomacy
and public affairs, told USINFO January 12 that `we live in a time of
unprecedented attacks on the media around the world. Journalists in
many countries face the threat of being harassed, abducted,
imprisoned, tortured, maimed or assassinated just for doing their
jobs. We need to talk much more in international circles about the
extent of this problem — what’s being done about it — and what more
we could do."
Another press freedom group, the New York-based Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ), said 18 Turkish journalists have been killed for
their work in the last 15 years, making Turkey the eighth deadliest
country in the world for journalists.
The CPJ said in a January 19 statement that Dink had received
numerous death threats from nationalist Turks who objected to his
views.
The group said that `through his journalism, Hrant Dink sought to
shed light on Turkey’s troubled past and create a better future for
Turks and Armenians. This earned him many enemies, but he vowed to
continue writing despite receiving many threats.’
Koïchiro Matsuura, secretary-general of the U.N. Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization, said January 22 that he
welcomed the speed with which the Turkish authorities were
investigating the case. Matsuura said the swift investigation was
`proof’ of the Turkish government’s determination to not let `this
heinous crime go unpunished.’
The State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices –
2005 discusses freedom of speech and press in Turkey. For additional
information, see the Turkey section of the report on the State
Department Web site.
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information
Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
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