TRIAL OPENS IN TURKEY OVER EDITOR’S MURDER

EuroNews, France
July 2 2007

Eighteen men have gone on trial in Istanbul in connection with the
murder of ethnic Armenian newspaper editor Hrant Dink. The trial
is throwing the spotlight on Turkey’s justice system and the issue
of freedom of speech. Dink had angered hardline nationalists over
comments about the killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

The Dink family’s lawyer says they continue to doubt whether the trial
can be fair. They also demand that "control over the legal system
be removed". Supporters of Dink have complained that death threats
against him were not taken seriously enough by the authorities. There
have also been accusations that people in positions of power may be
implicated in the killing, claims denied by officials.

Dink was shot outside his Istanbul office in January. A 17-year-old
man later confessed to the killing. As the trial opened against him
and his alleged accomplices, about a thousand protesters gathered
outside the court demanding a fair trial. Security was tight, with
about 500 extra police officers drafted in.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress