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DINK'S ANNIVERSARY A REMINDER THAT COUNTRY MUST REFORM PENAL CODE, SAY IFEX MEMBERS
IFEX
http://tinyurl.com/2rhtog
Jan 23 2008
Canada
IFEX members in Turkey and around the world commemorated the first
anniversary of the murder of Armenian editor Hrant Dink on 19 January,
while reminding the Turkish government that true justice for Dink
must include urgent reform to its penal code.
Ten thousand people, including Dink's widow Rakel and writer and peace
activist Arundhati Roy, gathered in front of the "Agos" newspaper
office in Istanbul at 3 pm, the place and time where Dink was gunned
down last year allegedly by a Turkish nationalist, report IFEX members
in Turkey IPS Communication Foundation (BIANET) and the Initiative
for Freedom of Expression (Antenna-TR). The protesters placed red
carnations on the spot where he was killed and demanded justice in
the case.
Although a murder trial started last year, it is taking place behind
closed doors and none of the 19 suspects have been charged.
Dink had tried to encourage reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia. But months before his death he was prosecuted under Article
301 of Turkey's penal code for "insulting Turkishness" and given
a six-month suspended sentence for describing a century-old mass
killing of Armenians as "genocide" in the Turkish-Armenian newspaper
"Agos". His high profile trial and conviction under Article 301 branded
him a traitor and made him a target for extremists, say IFEX members.
"Writers, journalists and publishers continue to face charges under
301 and other similarly divisive articles, receiving frequent threats
of violence as a result," wrote ARTICLE 19, Index on Censorship and
English PEN in a joint letter to "The Times".
IFEX members believe that true justice for Dink must include the
urgent abolition of Article 301 and are "dismayed" at how little has
changed since his death. Rakel Dink, addressing the crowd in front of
"Agos", pointed out that if Dink were still alive, he would actually
be in jail now. Dink's son, Arat, and the newspaper's owner were
given suspended sentences under Article 301 in October.
Over the coming weeks, the Turkish parliament will discuss amendments
to 301, but IFEX members believe they are likely to prove inadequate -
although "insulting Turkishness" may be removed, "denigration of the
Turkish nation" will still be considered a criminal offence carrying
severe penalties.
The International Publishers Association (IPA), who has been leading
an international campaign for the repeal of Article 301 and has been
in Turkey along with International PEN on a fact-finding mission,
calls the changes "cosmetic" and "likely to lead to more trials of
publishers and writers."
IFEX members are calling on the EU, in its negotiations with Turkey,
to ensure Article 301 is repealed and not just amended, and that no
one else is killed or persecuted solely for expressing their opinions.
The website of "Hrant Icin, Adalet Icin" ("For Hrant, For
Justice") campaign, run by a group of Turkish organisations, gives
information on the events held for Dink in Turkey and abroad. See:
http://www.hranticinadaleticin.com
IFEX
http://tinyurl.com/2rhtog
Jan 23 2008
Canada
IFEX members in Turkey and around the world commemorated the first
anniversary of the murder of Armenian editor Hrant Dink on 19 January,
while reminding the Turkish government that true justice for Dink
must include urgent reform to its penal code.
Ten thousand people, including Dink's widow Rakel and writer and peace
activist Arundhati Roy, gathered in front of the "Agos" newspaper
office in Istanbul at 3 pm, the place and time where Dink was gunned
down last year allegedly by a Turkish nationalist, report IFEX members
in Turkey IPS Communication Foundation (BIANET) and the Initiative
for Freedom of Expression (Antenna-TR). The protesters placed red
carnations on the spot where he was killed and demanded justice in
the case.
Although a murder trial started last year, it is taking place behind
closed doors and none of the 19 suspects have been charged.
Dink had tried to encourage reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia. But months before his death he was prosecuted under Article
301 of Turkey's penal code for "insulting Turkishness" and given
a six-month suspended sentence for describing a century-old mass
killing of Armenians as "genocide" in the Turkish-Armenian newspaper
"Agos". His high profile trial and conviction under Article 301 branded
him a traitor and made him a target for extremists, say IFEX members.
"Writers, journalists and publishers continue to face charges under
301 and other similarly divisive articles, receiving frequent threats
of violence as a result," wrote ARTICLE 19, Index on Censorship and
English PEN in a joint letter to "The Times".
IFEX members believe that true justice for Dink must include the
urgent abolition of Article 301 and are "dismayed" at how little has
changed since his death. Rakel Dink, addressing the crowd in front of
"Agos", pointed out that if Dink were still alive, he would actually
be in jail now. Dink's son, Arat, and the newspaper's owner were
given suspended sentences under Article 301 in October.
Over the coming weeks, the Turkish parliament will discuss amendments
to 301, but IFEX members believe they are likely to prove inadequate -
although "insulting Turkishness" may be removed, "denigration of the
Turkish nation" will still be considered a criminal offence carrying
severe penalties.
The International Publishers Association (IPA), who has been leading
an international campaign for the repeal of Article 301 and has been
in Turkey along with International PEN on a fact-finding mission,
calls the changes "cosmetic" and "likely to lead to more trials of
publishers and writers."
IFEX members are calling on the EU, in its negotiations with Turkey,
to ensure Article 301 is repealed and not just amended, and that no
one else is killed or persecuted solely for expressing their opinions.
The website of "Hrant Icin, Adalet Icin" ("For Hrant, For
Justice") campaign, run by a group of Turkish organisations, gives
information on the events held for Dink in Turkey and abroad. See:
http://www.hranticinadaleticin.com