Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Dzovig Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
January 27, 2007
AYF-YOARF Members Remember Assassinated Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink
WATERTOWN, Mass. – Since the January 19 assassination of
Istanbul-based Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, members of Armenian
Youth Federation-Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (AYF-YOARF) Eastern Region have honored his memory within
their local communities through rallies and vigils.
Dink was assassinated outside the offices of the Armenian and Turkish
language Agos newspaper in Istanbul. As the newspaper’s founder and
editor Dink aimed to make the publication a voice of democracy in
Turkey, a place where discrimination against the Armenians could be
heard, and a site of dialogue between Armenian and Turkish
communities.
Last year the 53-year-old editor was found guilty and given a
suspended six-month sentence in Turkey for "insulting Turkishness"
under the Turkish Penal Code because he talked about Armenian identity
and the Genocide.
On January 24, members of the Chicago Ararat chapter attended a
demonstration outside the Turkish consulate expressing their concern
over Dink’s murder. On the same day the Washington Ani AYF chapter
joined by their local ARF and the Greater Washington chapter of the
Armenian National Committee (ANC) gathered outside the Turkish Embassy
to condemn Dink’s assassination. The group called for an end to the
repression of free speech in Turkey and for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. A day earlier members of the New York Hyortik
chapter attended a vigil held outside the Turkish Consulate and the
United Nations, where nearly 2,000 people were in attendance to
remember Dink.
AYF-YOARF central executive member Levon Attarian participated in a
memorial ceremony on January 23 held at the Rhode Island State House
where Governer Don Cacieri spoke along with other prominent members of
the community. `Although this was a sad and unfortunate even, it was
great to see the Armenian Community from all three Churches attend
this event held by the ANC in order to show our unity during this
tragic loss to Armenia nation. It shows how the ANC as an
organization can bridge the gaps within the different communities here
in Rhode Island.,’ said Attarian.
On January 23 funeral services were held for Dink at the Kumkapı
Armenian Church in Turkey that turned into a protest of around 100,000
people who took to the streets of Istanbul. .
In Boston, AYF members and community organizations gathered for a
vigil at St. James church in Watertown, Mass., where Greater Boston
Nejdeh chapter members remembered Dink’s work and words. The following
day, the Philadelphia AYF and ARF along with other local community
groups held a memorial service at the stature of young Mher in front
of the Philadelphia art museum where a wreath will be laid in Dink’s
honor.