Turkish lawyer considers punishment imposed on H. Dink insufficient

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 14 2005

TURKISH LAWYER CONSIDERS PUNISHMENT IMPOSED ON HRANT DINK TO BE
INSUFFICIENT

ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The lawyer of
Mehmed Soykan, a party involved in the legal proceedings against
Hrant Dink, editor of the “Akos” Armenian newspaper of Istanbul,
submitted a claim to Turkish Cassation Court insisting that the
punishment of 6 months imposed on Hrant Dink and the delay of the
punishment contradicts the laws. As the “Marmara” daily informs
referring to the “Anatolu” agency, the lawyer insists that the court
had no right to impose a minimum punishment and to delay it. The
lawyer also reminded that another legal proceedings against Hrant
Dink continues in Urfa.

To recap, by the decision of the court Hrant Dink was convicted to 6
months’ imprisonment for “insulting the national originality of the
Turks.” At the same time, in consideration of defendant’s model
behaviour during the trial, the court delayed the punishment, which
means that Dink won’t be imprisoned unless he repeats what he has
done.

In an article published in early 2004 Dink applied to Armenians
calling up them to “give up hatred towards Turks, which poisons your
blood.”

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS