January 25, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The Shadow of Article 301
by Lucy Popescu

On January 19 2007 the Turkish-Armenian writer and editor Hrant Dink,
aged 52, was assassinated outside the Istanbul offices of his weekly
newspaper _Agos_ () . He was a prominent advocate
of the Armenian minority in Turkey, who sought to create a dialogue
between Turks and Armenians.

I met Dink last March at a writers’ conference in Istanbul. He struck
me then as a kind, open, quietly courageous man. Although many of us
from the international writers’ organisation PEN were concerned for
his safety, I don’t think any of us suspected that he would pay with
his life for his convictions.

In his last article, published on the day he died, Dink wrote "Yes, I
can feel myself as restless as a dove but I know that in this country
people do not touch and disturb the doves. The doves continue their
lives in the middle of the cities. Yes indeed a bit frightened but at
the same time free."

Dink was charged a number of times under the strict Turkish penal code
for "denigrating Turkey" and "insulting Turkish identity". More
recently, in July 2006, Dink was given a six-month suspended sentence
for "insulting Turkish identity" for an article on the Armenian
diaspora. He has always maintained that his aim was to alleviate the
tensions between Turkey and Armenia. A week later, a new case opened
against Dink. Like the novelist _Orhan Pamuk_
( 0,,1598668,00.html) , he
was due to stand trial under Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code, for
referring to the 1915 massacre of Armenians as "genocide" during an
interview. Dink was awaiting trial for these charges at the time of
his death.

Dink was evidently considered a traitor by Turkish ultra-nationalists.
Just before his assassination, the journalist had apparently
complained of death threats he was receiving from nationalists, and
had appealed to the Turkish authorities for these to be taken
seriously. Tragically they were not.

According to PEN, Article 301 has repeatedly marked writers,
journalists and publishers out as targets for attack, making it even
more urgent that this law is repealed. To be charged under Article 301
is to be branded an enemy of Turkey, to become a figure of hate and a
target for fanatics and extremists. The law is completely contrary to
international standards protecting the right to freedom of expression
and endangers the lives of those charged under it.

On Tuesday, thousands of people marched in a funeral procession for
the murdered journalist in Istanbul, many holding placards and protest
slogans calling for expanded freedom of speech. Today the Armenian
National Committee has organised a vigil outside the Turkish embassy
for anyone who would like to express their support in London.

~ Readers may also like to show their support by emailing the Turkish
government and calling for justice for the murder of Hrant Dink and
for the urgent repeal of Article 301. Send to: turkishemb@btclick.net,
Head of Mission, Turkish embassy: His Excellency Mr Akin Alptuna, fao
prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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