TRIAL OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN EDITOR’S MURDERERS TO START ON 2 JULY

Reporters Without Borders
May 10 2007

Reporters Without Borders today hailed the announcement that 18 people
will go on trial before an Istanbul court on 2 July for the murder of
Hrant Dink, the editor of the Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly Agos,
who was shot three times in the head as he was returning to his office
in Istanbul on 19 January.

"We hope all the aspects of this case will be clarified, including
the possible involvement of public officials," the press freedom
organisation said. "It is vital that the trial should be held in a
secure and transparent manner, so that the court is not subjected
to pressure or intimidation and is able to hand down an impartial
verdict."

The trial is to be held behind closed doors on the grounds that the
alleged shooter, Ogun Samast, is only 17. The long list of charges
against him include "murder with premeditation" and "membership of a
terrorist organisation." The sentence requested by the prosecution
for Samast is severe – 18 to 24 years in prison. Twelve of the 18
people accused are currently detained.

Reporters Without Borders added: "It is essential that those who
instigated this murder, whoever they are, should also be identified
and punished."

The murder of Dink, who was of Armenian origin, was widely condemned,
not only by the Armenian community but by many other Turkish sectors
and throughout the world. Dink defended democracy and free speech,
which he tried to put into practice in a difficult climate, and he
had many run-ins with the authorities and Turkish nationalists as
result of his courage and outspokenness.