InTheNews.co.uk, UK
Jan 19 2008
Thousands remember Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
Saturday, 19 Jan 2008 17:19
Thousands of people have gathered in central Istanbul to commemorate
the one-year anniversary of the death of Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink.
The 52-year-old was murdered a year ago to the day outside the
offices of his Turkish-Armenian weekly newspaper Agos.
His shooting drew international condemnation, particularly in
Armenia, while the Turkish government came under fire for reportedly
not acting on information his life was in danger.
A 17-year-old male youth has been accused of the journalist’s murder
and is due to next appear in court in February along with 18 others
alleged ultranationalists.
At least 8,000 of Mr Dink’s supporters gathered outside the offices
of Agos today, laying red carnations at the spot of his murder before
brandishing placards bearing the message "for Hrant, for justice".
Addressing the crowd, Mr Dink’s widow Rakel said: "We are at the
pavement where they tried to clean his blood with soap.
"You are here for justice today. A scream for justice rises from your
silence."
While he urged reconciliation, Mr Dink provoked controversy in Turkey
by claiming the killings of Armenians in the second world war under
the Ottoman Empire was genocide – a stance recently officially
adopted by the US.
In July 2006 he was prosecuted for criticising Turkish national
identity; legislation due to be repealed by the country’s parliament
later this year.