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TURKISH OFFICIALS FOUND NEGLIGENT IN DINK MURDER
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/murder-investigation/turkish-officials-found-negligent-dink-murder/20120221
February 21, 2012
Hrant Dink, murder investigation, Turkey, Turkish-Armenian,
International Negligence by Turkish state officials led to the 2007
killing of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, and a
flawed murder investigation undermined public trust in the security
services, a report commissioned by the president has concluded.
Security officials failed to protect Dink despite warnings of a
plot to kill him and the subsequent legal process exposed widespread
structural problems and the need for reforms, the report said.
Last month, an Istanbul court sentenced a man to life in prison
for Dink's murder but acquitted 17 other defendants, sparking large
protests and criticism from rights groups.
The investigation into the murder of Dink, former editor of the
bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos and Turkey's best known Armenian
voice abroad, was viewed as a test of democracy and human rights in
European Union candidate Turkey.
President Abdullah Gul ordered Turkey's State Supervisory Council
(DDK) to investigate the case following accusations from Dink's family,
lawyers and rights groups that state officials had been complicit in
the murder.
In a 650-page report, the conclusion of which was posted on the
president's website late on Monday, the DDK said security forces
failed to act on tip-offs about a plan to murder Dink and called for
the negligent officials to be investigated and tried.
It said the way the case had been handled had undermined public
confidence in the judicial system.
"On the one hand, a result to a case that does not satisfy the public
conscience has emerged and, on the other hand, the credibility of all
the public institutions has been brought into question," the DDK said
in the report.
Many Turks believe Dink was the target of arch nationalists because
of articles he wrote about Armenian identity and references he made
to a Turkish "genocide" of Christian Armenians in 1915 - an accusation
Turkey strenuously denies.
In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkish
authorities to pay 100,000 euros to Dink's family in compensation,
saying authorities had failed to protect Dink even though they knew
ultra-nationalists were plotting to kill him.
Seven security officials have already been convicted for failing to
relay information on the plot that could have prevented the murder.
In a statement ahead of last month's verdict, Amnesty International
said authorities had still not investigated the full circumstances
behind Dink's murder.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/murder-investigation/turkish-officials-found-negligent-dink-murder/20120221
February 21, 2012
Hrant Dink, murder investigation, Turkey, Turkish-Armenian,
International Negligence by Turkish state officials led to the 2007
killing of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, and a
flawed murder investigation undermined public trust in the security
services, a report commissioned by the president has concluded.
Security officials failed to protect Dink despite warnings of a
plot to kill him and the subsequent legal process exposed widespread
structural problems and the need for reforms, the report said.
Last month, an Istanbul court sentenced a man to life in prison
for Dink's murder but acquitted 17 other defendants, sparking large
protests and criticism from rights groups.
The investigation into the murder of Dink, former editor of the
bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos and Turkey's best known Armenian
voice abroad, was viewed as a test of democracy and human rights in
European Union candidate Turkey.
President Abdullah Gul ordered Turkey's State Supervisory Council
(DDK) to investigate the case following accusations from Dink's family,
lawyers and rights groups that state officials had been complicit in
the murder.
In a 650-page report, the conclusion of which was posted on the
president's website late on Monday, the DDK said security forces
failed to act on tip-offs about a plan to murder Dink and called for
the negligent officials to be investigated and tried.
It said the way the case had been handled had undermined public
confidence in the judicial system.
"On the one hand, a result to a case that does not satisfy the public
conscience has emerged and, on the other hand, the credibility of all
the public institutions has been brought into question," the DDK said
in the report.
Many Turks believe Dink was the target of arch nationalists because
of articles he wrote about Armenian identity and references he made
to a Turkish "genocide" of Christian Armenians in 1915 - an accusation
Turkey strenuously denies.
In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkish
authorities to pay 100,000 euros to Dink's family in compensation,
saying authorities had failed to protect Dink even though they knew
ultra-nationalists were plotting to kill him.
Seven security officials have already been convicted for failing to
relay information on the plot that could have prevented the murder.
In a statement ahead of last month's verdict, Amnesty International
said authorities had still not investigated the full circumstances
behind Dink's murder.