TURKISH COLONEL TO STAND TRIAL IN DINK MURDER
Javno.hr
Feb 17 2009
Croatia
The case has drawn criticism from human right groups and the European
Union.
A Turkish court ordered a colonel and five soldiers on Tuesday to
stand trial in connection with the murder in 2007 of a Turkish-Armenian
writer.
The case has drawn criticism from human right groups and the European
Union.
Colonel Ali Oz was indicted last year for failing to provide protection
to Hrant Dink, who had received death threats before he was murdered
in Istanbul by a nationalist gunman.
A lower court dismissed the case against Oz but, on Tuesday, a court
in the city of Trabzon said Oz should stand trial.
Two low-ranking soldiers are already on trial accused of neglect of
duty in the Dink murder.
Dink received numerous death threats because of articles urging
Turkey to accept responsibility for its part in the mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks and Kurds in 1915 — a highly sensitive
issue for Turkey.
The EU, which Turkey aspires to join, has criticised Ankara for what
it says are restrictions of freedom of expression.
Turkey’s powerful military, once beyond prosecution, has come under
increasing scrutiny following a wave of detentions and arrests that
have targeted retired and army officers for allegedly planning a coup
to topple the ruling AK Party.