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EUROPEAN COURT FINES TURKEY 105,000 EUROS FOR FAILING DINK
Hurriyet
Sept 14 2010
Turkey
The European court's verdict will have a significant effect on the
pending case in Turkey, the Dink family lawyer says. DAILY NEWS photo,
Hasan ALTINIÅ~^IK
The European Court of Human Rights has found the Turkish state guilty
of failing to protect the right to life and freedom of expression of
slain journalist Hrant Dink, the court said in a statement Tuesday.
The court also found Turkey guilty of failing to protect Dink's right
to due legal process and ordered the state to pay 105,000 euros to
the murdered journalist's family in total compensation, as well as
an extra 28,595 euros to the court for expenses, according to the
statement, which was released on Dink's birthday.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that it would not appeal
the case at the European court. In its statement, the ministry said
precautions would be taken to prevent similar breaches of rights in
the future.
The case at the European court was initially an investigation into
Dink's conviction for "insulting Turkishness" in his column in the
weekly newspaper Agos. The Turkish journalist of Armenian origin had
brought the case against the Turkish state to the European court.
After Dink was killed in front of Agos' building in Istanbul in
January 2007, his family opened an additional case at the European
court, accusing Turkey of failing to protect the journalist's right
to life. The two cases were later merged.
Turkey's defense at the European court attracted widespread criticism
after it drew parallels between neo-Nazism and Dink's perspectives.
The defense also said Dink did not ask for personal protection,
a fact it suggested meant he was not under threat.
Dink family lawyer Arzu Becerik said the European court's verdict would
significantly affect the ongoing criminal case on the journalist's
murder, private news channel CNNTurk reported.
Becerik said they had informed the European court of their criminal
complaints against public officers who had allegedly neglected to
protect Dink, and of the lack of results from such complaints.
The European court's decision on the breach of the right to due legal
process will play a role in the ongoing Turkish case about Dink's
murder, Becerik said. The current case in Turkish courts "is not
targeting the real criminals and is not capable enough of doing so,"
the lawyer added.
"Unfortunately none of the decisions will bring back Hrant; that is
why our happiness is bitter," Aris Nalcı, the legally responsible
editor of weekly Agos, said after the verdict was announced.
"What other decision could have been made in a tragic situation like
this?" Etyen Mahcupyan, a former editor-in-chief of Agos, asked.
"Turkey has become used to these kinds of cases."
From: A. Papazian
Hurriyet
Sept 14 2010
Turkey
The European court's verdict will have a significant effect on the
pending case in Turkey, the Dink family lawyer says. DAILY NEWS photo,
Hasan ALTINIÅ~^IK
The European Court of Human Rights has found the Turkish state guilty
of failing to protect the right to life and freedom of expression of
slain journalist Hrant Dink, the court said in a statement Tuesday.
The court also found Turkey guilty of failing to protect Dink's right
to due legal process and ordered the state to pay 105,000 euros to
the murdered journalist's family in total compensation, as well as
an extra 28,595 euros to the court for expenses, according to the
statement, which was released on Dink's birthday.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that it would not appeal
the case at the European court. In its statement, the ministry said
precautions would be taken to prevent similar breaches of rights in
the future.
The case at the European court was initially an investigation into
Dink's conviction for "insulting Turkishness" in his column in the
weekly newspaper Agos. The Turkish journalist of Armenian origin had
brought the case against the Turkish state to the European court.
After Dink was killed in front of Agos' building in Istanbul in
January 2007, his family opened an additional case at the European
court, accusing Turkey of failing to protect the journalist's right
to life. The two cases were later merged.
Turkey's defense at the European court attracted widespread criticism
after it drew parallels between neo-Nazism and Dink's perspectives.
The defense also said Dink did not ask for personal protection,
a fact it suggested meant he was not under threat.
Dink family lawyer Arzu Becerik said the European court's verdict would
significantly affect the ongoing criminal case on the journalist's
murder, private news channel CNNTurk reported.
Becerik said they had informed the European court of their criminal
complaints against public officers who had allegedly neglected to
protect Dink, and of the lack of results from such complaints.
The European court's decision on the breach of the right to due legal
process will play a role in the ongoing Turkish case about Dink's
murder, Becerik said. The current case in Turkish courts "is not
targeting the real criminals and is not capable enough of doing so,"
the lawyer added.
"Unfortunately none of the decisions will bring back Hrant; that is
why our happiness is bitter," Aris Nalcı, the legally responsible
editor of weekly Agos, said after the verdict was announced.
"What other decision could have been made in a tragic situation like
this?" Etyen Mahcupyan, a former editor-in-chief of Agos, asked.
"Turkey has become used to these kinds of cases."
From: A. Papazian