CONGRESSMAN CROWLEY URGES CONGRESS TO HONOR DINK’S MEMORY BY SUPPORTING REPEAL OF ARTICLE 301
armradio.am
21.01.2008 10:46
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) urged Congress to honor the memory of slain
journalist and human rights activist, Hrant Dink, by supporting the
immediate repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish penal code.
The much-criticized law used to curb freedom of speech and criminalize
public discussion on the Armenian Genocide is widely believed to have
led to Dink’s assassination in broad daylight on an Istanbul street
on January 19, 2007.
"Many informed observers believe Hrant Dink’s prosecution under
Article 301 opened him up to a campaign of harassment and death
threats from ultranationalists, which eventually led to his murder,"
said Crowley. "To this day, citizens of Turkey live under threat of
this gag law, with Hrant Dink’s own son prosecuted under this law
because he reprinted his father’s newspaper article."
"This is not the action of a true democracy," he continued. "It is
reflective of how a totalitarian state would behave, and this is
not the Turkey we, the United States of America, have aligned our
country with."
Last January, Crowley introduced legislation (H. Res. 102) which
condemned Dink’s murder, honored his legacy and called on Turkey to
take appropriate action to protect freedom of speech by repealing
Article 301. The resolution is currently pending in the House Foreign
Affairs Committee.
"With no demonstrable steps taken to abolish Article 301 a year after
Hrant Dink’s murder, it is clear that Armenians and other minorities
are still at risk in Turkey," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "We therefore commend Congressman Crowley for spearheading
this legislation and urge its timely adoption. Passage of H. Res. 102
will pay lasting tribute to Dink’s legacy of tolerance and send a
clear message that the United States does not stand for repression
of free speech."