TRIAL OF THE CONTROVERSIAL SONG PRAISING DINK’S MURDER CONTINUES

BIA
Nov 6 2008
Turkey

The trial of those who made a music video that praised the murder of
Hrant Dink is waiting for the result of prosecutor’s deliberation.

The case against the four people for publishing in the internet the
music video that praised the murder of Hrant Dink continues.

The writer of the song in the video titled "Don’t make a plan", Arif
Å~^irin, also known as Bard Arif, and the singer, Ä°smail Turut,
are on trial for the video images that were put on the internet
after Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, owner and chief editor of
Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos, was murdered in front of its building
in broad daylight on January 19, 2007.

The next hearing will be on December 16

The 16th Criminal Court of First Instance of Istanbul is trying,
in addition to Arif Å~^irin and Ä°smail Turut, Zeynel Abidin Mutlu
and Hakan Oztekin as well for the charges of "praising the crime and
the criminal" and "inciting among people hatred and hostility." They
are facing prison sentences from up to 7,5 years.

Head of the court Judge Muhsin Sarıkaya decided to give more extra
time to prosecutor Ozer Kaya to prepare its counter statement to the
expert report. The next hearing will be on December 16.

In addition to the statement by the prosecutor, the next hearing
will also evaluate the evidence submitted by Yusuf Sur, lawyer of
the accused.

Activists objected to the video clip; Turut supported it

Various rights defenders such as the Initiative To Say Stop To Racism
And Nationalism (DurDe), the Association of Human Rights (Ä°HD), and
the Organization Of Human Rights And Solidarity For Oppressed People
(MAZLUMDER) had protested folk singer Ä°smail Turut for praising
Yasin Hayal and Ogun Samast, Hrant Dink’s murderers, in his "Don’t
make a plan" song.

However, Turut had stated to the TV channels that his song had no
such intention and he was behind his song hundred percent, although
he had also said that he did not approve of the video clip.

The 1st Criminal Court of First Instance of Istanbul had decided to
remove the video clip from the video sharing site YouTube.

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