TRIAL BEGINS IN MURDER OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN EDITOR HRANT DINK

Democracy Now, NY
July 3 2007

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And finally in Turkey, eighteen suspects went on trial Monday for the
murder of Turkish Armenian editor Hrant Dink. Dink was slain outside
his office in January in what many believe was a political killing
for his efforts to challenge Turkish denial of the Armenian genocide.

More than one thousand people demonstrated outside the courtroom
Monday demanding a fair proceeding. Several Turkish newspapers have
reported one of the main suspects said he murdered Dink on the orders
of police officers. The lead-up to the trial has brought accusations
of lackluster investigations and state interference.

Fethiye Cetin, Hrant Dink’s lawyer: "Of course our suspicions continue
because it is a general problem. What happened during the Semdinli
investigation is a clear sign of it. Firstly, all control over the
legal system must be removed. This is the biggest problem."

Cetin was referring to the recent overturning of a forty-year jail
term for two paramilitary officers over their role in a controversial
bombing of a bookstore in the eastern town of Semdinli two years ago.