"STOP PROSECUTION OF JOURNALISTS AND CALL REAL PERPETRATORS TO ACCOUNT"

BIAnet.org
glish/freedom-of-expression/121552-stop-prosecutio n-of-journalists-and-call-real-perpetrators-to-acc ount
April 26 2010
Turkey

Reporters without Borders claimed to leave aside the prosecution of
authors Å~^ener and GöktaÅ~_, who drew attention to the state’s
responsibiltiy in the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink
in their books. Instead, the ones responsible for the assassination
should be revealed, RSF said.

Erol ONDEROÄ~^LU hukuk@bianet.org Istanbul – BÄ°A News Center26 April
2010, Monday The international organization of Reporters without
Borders (RSF), demanded to leave aside the prosecution of authors
Nedim Å~^ener and Kemal GöktaÅ~_. Both journalists face heavy prison
sentences for their books about the assassination of Turkish Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink.

Dink, founder and editor-in-chief of the Armenian Agos newspaper,
was killed in front of his office in Istanbul on 19 January 2007.

While justice in the murder case is being delayed, issues without
prirority like the prosecution of the journalists are taken care of
in a preferred manner, RSF emphasized. "The judiciary has not brought
light into all aspects related to the murder. During a process when
responsible people in politics and within the police have not been
called to account yet, the accusations against Nedim Å~^ener and
Kemal GöktaÅ~_ remain unreasonable and insubstantial", RSF announced.

RSF: Allegations against journalists should be withdrawn RSF reminded
that "writer Å~^ener faces up to 32.5 years imprisonment in three
different cases launched on the grounds of his book "The Dink Murder
and the Intelligence Lies"; GötaÅ~_ is facing a five years’ sentence
based on his book entitled "The Hrant Dink Murder: Media, Judiciary,
State".

RSF demanded to withdraw the allegations put up against the journalists
and to end the lack of punishment in the murder case which has been
going on for three years now.

Å~^ener stands trial at the Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court, at the
Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance and at the Bakırköy
(Istanbul) 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. RSF drew attention to
the fact that both Å~^ener and GöktaÅ~_ are threatened by possible
prison sentences because they did what was necessary in the scope of
their profession as journalists. "We hope that the decisions to be
taken related to both journalists will manifest justice".

The Dink murder case with a total of 20 defendants will continue at
the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court on 10 May. (EO/VK)