Hrant Dink was killed in Istanbul just before he was entering the AGOS newpaper building in Sisli area, today, 19th January 2007
Shocking news of the murder of Hrant Dink, journalist, editor of Turkish-Armenian newspaper Agos:
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - Journalist Hrant Dink, one of the most prominent voices of Turkey’s shrinking Armenian community, was killed by a gunman Friday at the entrance to his newspaper’s offices, police said.
Hrant Dink, a 53-year-old Turkish citizen of Armenian descent, had gone on trial numerous times for speaking out about the mass killings of Armenians by Turks at the beginning of the 20th century. He had also received threats from nationalists, who viewed him as a traitor.
Other sources: BBC: Turkish-Armenian writer shot dead | ArmeniaNow: Hrant Dink Murdered: Turkish-Armenian journalist shot dead in Istanbul | A1plus: “DISGUSTING CRIME” ; OSCE APPALLED BY MURDER OF HRANT DINK | iArarat: Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink Murdered in Turkey | Oneworld Multimedia: Hrant Dink Shot Dead in Istanbul
Hirant Dink was killed in Istanbul just before he was entering the AGOS newpaper building in Sisli area, today, 19th January 2007.
The killer suggested that 18-19 years old. Police held 2 young people around Taksim area.
Right now, In Istanbul, Taksim area people are gathering to PROTEST KILLING.
Left wing parties, militant and activists took street of Istanbul…
They are chatting as
LONG LIVE BROTHERSHIP OF THE PEOPLE.
STATE IS THE MURDERER.
I am sorry to inform this painful news.
Mustafa
I AM AN ERMENIAN!
Comment by Mustafa — 1/19/2007 @ 6:19 pm
My condolences to the people of Turkey and the people of Armenia. This is an irreparable loss.
Comment by Observer — 1/19/2007 @ 8:45 pm
This is a great loss. Hrant Dink was a clear voice of reason above the mindless blind braying of both Turkish and Armenian nationalists. He managed to upset and annoy both which is a sure sign that he was doing something right! Major shame. Condolences to the Armenian community of Turkey. They are true heroes.
Comment by Vasken in London — 1/19/2007 @ 9:23 pm
Minister Oskanian condemns Hrant Dink assassination
Comment by Observer — 1/19/2007 @ 9:28 pm
Just now, 19 january 2006 6.39 pm London time, thousand and thousands are protesting HRANT DINK death.
The writings are in Turkish, Armenian and English saying one thing “BROTHER HRANT”.
Yes, we lost our brother and we are really very sorry.
I have no other words.
Comment by Turgut — 1/19/2007 @ 9:53 pm
This is really shocking news, I was watching him speak on a video just yesterday. He really did have the voice of reason when it comes to Armenia/Turkey relations
Comment by Harmick — 1/19/2007 @ 10:10 pm
He is a great man. I am afraid the Armenian community of Istanbul could be lost without him. Regardless, he did so much and was so helpful to all, this is a terrible loss.
Comment by Paul — 1/20/2007 @ 1:33 am
Shame of Turkey…
This is a spectatle.. They are trying to catch 18 years old guy, while only couple of months ago were chasing him on the state level. You could not keep the man who was the simble of Turkey. Stop deceiving your own people. Enough is enough, its been almost 100 years of denial. The whole civilized world demanding JUSTICE.
Comment by Arman — 1/20/2007 @ 3:31 am
STATEMENT
of Yerevan Press Club
on the assassination of the Chief Editor of
“Agos” newspaper Hrant Dink
We, the members of Yerevan Press Club, are shocked to the depth of our
hearts by the assassination of a well-known journalist, the Chief Editor of
“Agos” newspaper Hrant Dink. This abominable act is directed against freedom
of expression, democracy, the normalization of Armenian -Turkish relations.
It is yet another sign of numerous dark, regressive, cruel forces that do
not wish our region to advance in its development.
Hrant devoted his journalistic and public activities to fighting for the
human right to express ideas freely; to overcoming the traditional
stereotypes that hinder people from communicating, understanding and loving
each other. He found it equally unacceptable to hush down the crime of the
Turkish government against its Armenian population in 1915 and to introduce
criminal charges for denial of Armenian genocide, as in the draft approved
by the French parliament. Being one of the few people in Turkey who dared to
speak of genocide, Hrant Dink qualified the punishment of anyone holding
contrary views as a human rights infringement. He was one of the people seen
as the symbol of Turkey’s regeneration - a controversial process,
encountering powerful resistance to change and numerous internal and
external obstacles.
People like Hrant, who seek to overcome the fear and complexes in themselves
and those around, people who are open for everything new and good, are the
most defenseless. His murder, as well as his previous political and court
persecution by Turkish authorities, come to confirm this sad truth. Seeing
the unrivaled scale of outcry in the world and in Turkey itself to the
killing of our colleague, one cannot help to think of the paradox: the
society reacts most painfully and with a certain sense of guilt to the loss
of those its members, who, in their service to truth and justice, were most
vulnerable and did not receive the due empathy and support during their
lifetime. Let this be another lesson for all the countries, where
journalists are killed, abused and harassed.
Feeling tremendous sorrow, we cannot but express our regret over a number of
statements. Their authors are trying to use the Istanbul tragedy to
disseminate ideas, alien to Hrant Dink, thus being disrespectful to his
memory. The assassination of a journalist and a public figure is certainly a
consequence of political collisions in Turkish society, and we call to
oppose to using it for deepening incomprehension and hostility.
We want to believe that the values Hrant Dink stood for, the aims he strove
for will find more and more supporters in Turkey, Armenia, in whole of our
region. Yerevan Press Club has always been and will always be among them.
January 20, 2007
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: pressclub@ypc.am
Web Site: www.ypc.am
Comment by Observer — 1/20/2007 @ 4:41 pm
On behalf of myself I would like to extend my deep sympathies and condolences to the Dinks Family and Armenian community .
Comment by Gülcan Çetinkaya — 1/20/2007 @ 7:31 pm
I am turkish and really sorry for the death of such a great men. And please believe there are millons of Turks who are truly sorry.
Comment by deniz — 1/20/2007 @ 11:17 pm
One of the captions on CNN’s screen read: “Dink had been convicted of insulting the Turkish identity” or something like that, then the very next caption read: “Turkish Prime Minister called Dink’s killing an insult to Turkey.” Ironic, isn’t it?
Comment by Vahagn — 1/21/2007 @ 1:08 am