Washington DC area Armenian Americans condemn assassination of Hrant Dink
ArmRadio.am
25.01.2007 10:26
Some 100 Armenian Americans from throughout the Greater Washington DC
area braved the snow and freezing temperatures to honor slain Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink and call on the Turkish Government to end its 92
year international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial. The vigil was
organized the ARF Washington Sebouh Gomideh, ANC of Greater Washington,
and AYF Washington Ani Chapter.
The crowd gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy just two days after
Dink, a respected journalist and free speech advocate, was gunned down
outside his "Agos" newspaper office in Istanbul, Turkey. Dink had long
been persecuted by the Turkish government for his calls for Armenian
Genocide recognition, and was convicted last year for "insulting
Turkishness" under Turkey’s notorious Article 301 law restricting free
speech. Nobel prize winner Orhan Pamuk, publisher Ragip Zarakolu and
novelist Elif Shafak are just some of the many writers who have also
been prosecuted according to the same repressive law.
During remarks at the vigil, AYF Ani Chapter chairman Serouj Aprahamian
stated, "Many are saying that Dink was killed by ultranationalists
who considered his statements to be insulting Turkey’s honor and
threatening its unity. But this is not just the position of some
so-called ‘ultranationalists’; it is the official position of the
Turkish government which prosecuted and condemned Dink for his stance
on the Armenian Genocide." Aprahamian continued to note that, "It is
the shameless policy of Genocide denial perpetrated by Ankara which is
the real problem and that is what we must continue to fight against."
Other speakers at the vigil included ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian and Father Sarkis Aktavoukian, pastor of the Soorp Khatch
Armenian Church, who led the vigil participants in prayer in memory
of Dink. In a statement issued immediately upon news of Dink’s
assassination, Hamparian noted that, ""Hrant Dink’s murder is tragic
proof that the Turkish government – through its campaign of denial,
threats and intimidation against the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide – continues to fuel the same hatred and intolerance that
initially led to this crime against humanity more than 90 years ago."