PanARMENIAN.Net

Hrant Dink applied to police for permission to carry a gun but was rejected
26.07.2008 16:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hrant Dink, the prominent Turkish-Armenian
journalist who was shot to death in 2007, had applied for permission
to carry a gun after receiving threats. However, officials turned down
his request, said a police informant with an Armenian name, according
to a report issued by the parliamentary subcommission examining Dink’s
murder.

An important detail, not previously mentioned, was revealed in the
report by the parliamentary subcommission, daily Hürriyet
wrote. An individual, who was believed to be from the close circle
Dink traveled in, is thought to have Armenian roots because of his
name and is believed to have been following Dink. He has now been
identified in the report as a police informer. This information was
obtained from a report by inspectors Sukru Yildiz and Mehmet Ali
Ozkilinc, who had investigated possible official negligence in Dink’s
murder. The informer was referred to as H.A.

Dink had sought a licensed gun but did not receive permission, the
informer, H.A., said, according to the report. The informer also said
he did not know to which authority Dink complained about not receiving
permission. Erdal Dogan, the lawyer representing Dink’s family, said
it was also revealed that Dink was aware that he was being
pursued. `An individual who was saying that he is under threat applied
for a gun and he was rejected, this violates human rights,’ Dogan
said.

Orhan Dink, brother of Hrant Dink, said of the informer, `This person
could be Armenian, or he could be a person with an Armenian name.’
Orhan Dink also said that the information about his brother requesting
a gun was accurate. However, inspectors Yildiz and Ozkilinc, in their
report, stated no application from Dink for a gun had been received.

An official, whose name was not identified, said the word `informer’
might mean supporting intelligence personnel and also said during
administrative inquiries inspectors talk to officials and not
civilians, Hurriyet reports.