AI Condemns Hrant Dink Killing

Amnesty International called on Turkish authorities for an impatial investigation into writer Hrant Dinks murder and to condemn all forms of intolerance. He was targeted because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom of expression, AI said.

New york

Amnesty International deplores the murder of the prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

"He was targeted because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom of expression", the organization said.

Best known for his willingness to debate openly and critically issues of Armenian identity and official versions of history in Turkey relating to the massacres of Armenians in 1915, Hrant Dink also wrote widely on issues of democratization and human rights.

"In Turkey there are still a number of harsh laws which endorse the suppression of freedom of speech. These laws, coupled with the persisting official statements by senior government, state and military officials condemning critical debate and dissenting opinion, create an atmosphere in which violent attacks can take place," said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.

Last year, Hrant Dink was prosecuted for the third time on charges of "insulting Turkishness" under Article 301 of the Penal Code. Amnesty International called for the repeal of that law and condemned his prosecution as part of a pattern of judicial harassment against him for peacefully expressing his dissenting opinion.

The organization called on the Turkish authorities to condemn all forms of intolerance, to uphold the rights of all citizens of the Turkish Republic and to investigate the murder of Hrant Dink thoroughly and impartially, to make the findings of the investigation public and to bring suspected perpetrators to justice in accordance with international fair trial standards.(EÜ)