Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

AI Calls on Turkish Authorities to Reveal Full Dink Circumstances

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • AI Calls on Turkish Authorities to Reveal Full Dink Circumstances

    U.S. Newswire
    January 17, 2008 Thursday 7:01 PM EST


    Amnesty International Calls on Turkish Authorities to Reveal the Full
    Circumstances Surrounding Hrant Dink's Murder

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 18


    On the eve of the first anniversary of the killing of the
    Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, Amnesty International calls
    on the Turkish authorities to condemn all forms of intolerance and to
    bring all those involved in the killing to justice in accordance with
    international fair trial standards.

    "The scope of the investigation must be widened to examine the full
    circumstances of the killing, including the role of law enforcement
    officials in failing to act on warnings that he was being targeted
    for assassination," said Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International's
    researcher on Turkey.

    Hrant Dink had reported threats to his life to the Public Prosecutor
    in Sisli. According to the indictment in the murder trial, one of the
    defendants also acted as a police informer and told the police of the
    plans to assassinate Hrant Dink in the months before the murder took
    place. Nevertheless, steps were not taken to ensure his protection.
    Subsequently two gendarmerie officers were charged with dereliction
    of duty; however, lawyers for the family have called for more law
    enforcement officers to be brought to justice.

    The initial statement by the Istanbul Police Chief that the killing
    was the act of a gunman working alone and the photographs of military
    police with the alleged killer as if he was a "hero" illustrate an
    official reluctance to examine the full scope of the crime and
    contribute to the perception that sections of the law enforcement
    agencies may be biased.

    Amnesty International considers that Hrant Dink was shot on January
    19, 2007 because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom
    of expression and promoted the universality of human rights.

    "Human rights activists have a right to the protection of the state,
    like any other citizen. The failure to prevent the murder of Hrant
    Dink and the subsequent flaws in the investigation must not be
    repeated," Gardner said.

    "Hrant Dink's case is not an exception. Many in Turkey continue to be
    prosecuted for the peaceful expression of their non-violent opinions.
    This is due both to the existence of flawed legislation and the
    arbitrary implementation of the law by judges and prosecutors."

    Hrant Dink was repeatedly prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish
    Penal Code that criminalizes "denigrating Turkishness." Amnesty
    International has continually called for Article 301 to be abolished
    on the grounds that it poses a grave threat to freedom of expression,
    as it is worded in such broad and vague terms. Amnesty International
    is concerned that the number of cases opened under this article
    appears to have increased in 2007. The organization notes that in the
    past year, violations of human rights increased and measures to
    combat them remained insufficient.

    "The continuing suppression of freedom of expression in Turkey has
    created an atmosphere of deadly intolerance culminating in the
    killing of Hrant Dink," said Gardner.

    In a memorandum to the government sent earlier this week, the
    organization reminded it of its commitment, repeated after elections
    last year, to further legislative reform and advance guarantees of
    human rights and freedoms. Amnesty International believes that the
    current government must take action on a number of issues to achieve
    lasting, substantive improvements. These issues include torture and
    ill-treatment in detention and impunity for the perpetrators, fair
    trial concerns, obstacles being placed to undermine the work of human
    rights activists and freedom of expression.

    "In addition to implementing current legal reforms, urgent
    legislative reform must be adopted. The authorities must seize the
    opportunity to advance the protection of fundamental rights and
    freedoms for all in the new constitution that is being drafted," said
    Gardner.

    For more information, please contact the AIUSA media office at
    202-544-0200 x302.

    SOURCE Amnesty International
    Contact: Sharon Singh of Amnesty International, +1-202-544-0200 x302
Working...
X