Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands
24 April Committee
For Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Website:
Email: [email protected]
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Press Release
Armenians commemorate journalist Hrant Dink
16 January 2008
The Hague, 16 January 2008 – A year ago, on 19 January 2007, the Armenian
Turkish journalist Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul. He will be
commemorated on 19 January in many countries and also in the Netherlands.
Dink was a brave man, who has devoted himself fearlessly for his principles
and he paid for that with his life. On 19 January 2008 at 2 p.m. flowers
will be laid at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in cemetery of "De Boskamp",
Boskamp 5, in Assen. Mrs. E. Wiegman-Van Meppelink Scheping Member of Dutch
Parliament will be present at this commemoration. Beside the solemn
commemoration, a resolution will be adopted demanding among others the
abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code and respecting human
rights and rights of minorities in Turkey.
Hrant Dink was the publisher, head editor and columnist of the Armenian
Turkish bilingual weekly newspaper "Agos". In his publications he promoted
the dialogue between Armenians and Turks. Dialogue and reconciliation were
the nature of the work of Hrant Dink. In that sense he was a bridge builder,
but likewise he was a fighter for the freedom of press and the freedom of
speech in Turkey.
In many countries he was awarded for his work. In November 2006 he received
the Oxfam Novib Pen Award in The Hague from Mr. Deetman, the mayor of The
Hague. In Germany Dink received the famous Henri-Nannen price for his merits
for freedom of press.
Dink was condemned in 2005 under Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code a six
months suspended sentence. On the basis of this Article one can be
condemned, if one "offends the Turkishness" in the authorities opinion.
After his condemnation Hrant Dink became a victim of the political climate
in Turkey. By his attitude he was continuously threatened, but he did not
get, in spite of repeated request, Istanbul police protection. The context
and circumstances of his assassination have not been entirely cleared up to
today.
The refusal of the successive Turkish governments to face and to deal with
the dark pages of their own history, leads to violence and aggression, and
still claims victims, more than ninety years after the Genocide of the
Armenian. Although Hrant Dink brought up the issue of Armenian Genocide of
1915 within the Turkish society in a respectful manner also for Turks, he
had to pay with his life for this brave interpretation of the elementary
freedom of expression and freedom of press. Also after his dead these basic
human rights in Turkey are at issue.
The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) thus
calls the responsible persons in the government and parliament of the
Netherlands, and also the politicians of the European Union to stand up for
these elementary rights in Turkey and particularly to demand now from Turkey
the complete abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code on very
short term. If only because of tribute to Hrant Dink, who might well still
be alive without this Article. In spite of innumerable promises by Turkey
this Article, which is in flagrant contradiction to the European standards,
until now still is effective.
Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands