Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Jan 20 2007
We Are All Armenians, We Are All Hrant Dink
Saturday , 20 January 2007
A prominent Turkish Armenian newspaper editor and leading figure in
one of Turkey’s most painful historical debates was shot dead on
Friday.
Hrant Dink, 53, was shot three times in the head outside the office
of his weekly newspaper Agos in Istanbul. He died almost immediately.
His murder brought swift condemnation from the prime minister, Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, who despatched the interior and justice ministers to
the city as an investigation got under way.
Thousands of Turkish people have rallied in Istanbul to protest at
the murder of a prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink,
outside his office.
"We are all Armenians, we are all Hrant Dink," the crowd chanted.
"A bullet has been fired at democracy and freedom of expression,"
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a hastily convened
news conference as news of Dink’s murder spread.
The attack on Dink was an attack on Turkey and on Turkish unity and
stability, Mr Erdogan said, adding that the "dark hands" behind the
killing would be brought to justice.
The murder is likely to increase political tensions in Turkey.
Police said Dink, 53, was shot at least twice. Turkey’s NTV, STV and
Star televisions showed pictures of a white sheet covering the
journalist’s body in front of the newspaper building’s entrance.
Turkish media quoted Istanbul’s governor as saying three people were
in custody in connection with the killing.
Journalists and politicians in Turkey expressed outrage at the
killing, which many described as a political assassination, while the
US, EU, Armenia, and several human rights groups also voiced shock
and condemnation.
A crowd of several thousand people marched towards the office of
Agos, the bilingual Turkish and Armenian weekly newspaper Dink
edited, on Friday night.
Many carried red carnations and photographs of Dink with the
inscription "My dear brother" in Turkish, Armenian and English.
There was also a protest by several hundred people in Ankara.
THE U.S.A.K. CONDEMNS THE MURDER
The Ankara-based Turkish think tank USAK, like many other Turkish
NGOS has also condemned the murder. Dr. Sedat Laciner, head of the
USAK said "the target was not Hrant but Turkey".