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?Je Suis Hrant Je Suis Charlie?

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  • ?Je Suis Hrant Je Suis Charlie?

    Armenian National Committee of Canada
    130 Albert St., Suite 1007
    Ottawa, ON KIP 5G4
    Tel: 613-235-2622
    Fax: 613-238-2622
    E-mail: [email protected]

    Jan. 19, 2015


    ?Je Suis Hrant Je Suis Charlie?
    Armenians Across Canada Remember
    Hrant Dink and Charlie Hebdo Journalists

    Ottawa, Ontario - Holding signs saying ?Je Suis Hrant Je Suis
    Charlie?, Armenian communities across Canada held events this weekend
    defending freedom of expression and freedom of the press by
    remembering martyred journalists of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo
    as well as Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, assassinated eight
    years ago on January 19, 2007. Dink, a journalist and editor-in-chief
    of Agos, a bilingual newspaper published in Istanbul, Turkey was shot
    outside his newspaper?s offices by Turkish ultra-nationalist youth.

    Armenian National Committee of Canada President, Dr. Girair Basmadjian
    said ?Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had no place in Paris
    marching beside other world leaders who champion freedom of expression
    and press freedom. Turkey remains the world?s greatest offender
    against freedom of expression.?

    Dr. Basmadjian added, ?Charlie Hebdo cartoonists would have long ago
    been arrested under current Turkish law. In contrast to France?s
    swift actions to dismantle the terrorist networks responsible for the
    Charlie Hebdo massacre, the conspirators behind the assassination of
    Hrant Dink remain free to this day. If Turkey cares about freedom of
    expression, it must repeal Article 301, protect the rights of its
    minority peoples to speak the truth and bring Hrant Dink?s killers to
    justice.?

    Dink, a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent and staunch advocate of
    dialogue between Armenians and Turks as well as the recognition of the
    Armenian Genocide by Turkey was prosecuted and convicted under Article
    301 of the Turkish penal code, and his life was constantly under
    threat by Turkish ultra-nationalists. Despite knowing that Dink was
    the subject of numerous threats, Turkish authorities did nothing to
    protect him and some were even involved in the plot that ultimately
    took his life.

    Article 301 of Turkish penal code, which came into effect in 2005,
    makes it illegal to ?insult? Turkey, Turkish ethnicity, or Turkish
    governmental institutions. It is one of the most extreme measures
    supported by the Turkish government to oppose freedom of speech
    especially regarding the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

    Unfortunately, eight years later, the Republic of Turkey has done
    nothing to bring the true perpetrators of Dink?s assassination to
    justice. As well, Turkey still remains one of the world?s worst
    offenders when it comes to imprisoning journalists. In 2014, Turkey
    passed new laws allowing it to control all social media. Last March,
    both YouTube and Twitter were blocked in Turkey despite international
    protests, including by the Canadian government. Therefore, it is
    ironic that Prime Minister Davutoglu would stand with world leaders in
    Paris to condemn the recent attacks on the offices of Charlie Hebdo.

    Dr. Basmadjian concluded by stating that ?The ANCC stands with all
    free-thinking people in condemning any attempt to violently restrict
    freedom of expression. When extremists use guns to prevent us from
    speaking freely, we must all make our voices heard. Je suis Hrant, je
    suis Charlie.?

    Contact: R. Roupen Kouyoumdjian (514) 265-4602

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