SUPPORT GROWS FOR HRANT DINK RESOLUTION
DeFacto Agency
Feb 13 2008
Armenia
A congressional resolution condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink (H. Res. 102) continues to gain strength, as
five House Members added their support to the measure in recent days,
reported the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).
Within the course of a week, Congressmen Jerry F. Costello (D-IL),
Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Ed Royce (R-CA), and Paul
Ryan (R-WI) joined the growing list of cosponsors, bringing the total
number of supporters to 49.
It should be noted that Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)
were added on Friday, February 8, bringing the total number of
cosponsors to 51.
To remind, a human rights defender, Dink was prosecuted under Article
301 of the Turkish penal code for his writings on the Armenian
Genocide. He was murdered on January 19, 2007 in broad daylight
outside of his office at Agos newspaper in Istanbul, Turkey.
"In order to uphold our democratic values, it is imperative that
America demonstrates its commitment to human rights and fundamental
freedoms to the rest of the world," said Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "Article 301 is a part and parcel with Turkey’s ongoing
campaign to deny the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide. We
will continue to push for passage of H. Res. 102."