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TURKISH COURT BEGINS FIRST OPEN HEARING OF ARMENIAN JOURNALIST'S MURDER CASE
Anatolia News Agency
July 7 2008
Turkey
A Turkish court in Istanbul began on Monday the first open hearing
of Turkish-Armenian journalist's assassination case.
This is the sixth hearing at the Istanbul Criminal Court regarding
the case of assassination of Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.
Monday's hearing is the first one to be open to the press and other
people who want to observe it. The former five sessions were closed
to the press since suspect O.S. was a juvenile.
Nineteen suspects, eight of whom are in prison, are tried in the case.
A member of European Parliament of Turkish origin said before the
hearing that those who were countering racism and discrimination were
standing beside each other today.
"The democratic, secular, bright and European Turkey case, backed by
Hrant, is not over yet," parliamentarian Cem Ozdemir said.
Ozdemir also said that those who killed Hrant Dink were those who
did not want such a Turkey.
Dink was shot dead outside the offices of his Agos newspaper in
Istanbul in January, 2007. Police arrested the gunman and a suspected
associate who was identified as Yasin Hayal.
The trial began in July 2007. Prosecutors have asked for a prison
term of 18 years up to 24 years for Dink's assassin, and lifetime
sentences for two key suspects, Erhan Tuncel and Yasin Hayal, for
inciting to the murder.
Anatolia News Agency
July 7 2008
Turkey
A Turkish court in Istanbul began on Monday the first open hearing
of Turkish-Armenian journalist's assassination case.
This is the sixth hearing at the Istanbul Criminal Court regarding
the case of assassination of Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.
Monday's hearing is the first one to be open to the press and other
people who want to observe it. The former five sessions were closed
to the press since suspect O.S. was a juvenile.
Nineteen suspects, eight of whom are in prison, are tried in the case.
A member of European Parliament of Turkish origin said before the
hearing that those who were countering racism and discrimination were
standing beside each other today.
"The democratic, secular, bright and European Turkey case, backed by
Hrant, is not over yet," parliamentarian Cem Ozdemir said.
Ozdemir also said that those who killed Hrant Dink were those who
did not want such a Turkey.
Dink was shot dead outside the offices of his Agos newspaper in
Istanbul in January, 2007. Police arrested the gunman and a suspected
associate who was identified as Yasin Hayal.
The trial began in July 2007. Prosecutors have asked for a prison
term of 18 years up to 24 years for Dink's assassin, and lifetime
sentences for two key suspects, Erhan Tuncel and Yasin Hayal, for
inciting to the murder.