One More Person Arrested Over Threats Against Hrant Dink Foundation

* Photo: İslam Yakut - İstanbul / AA

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Taken into custody for having sent a threatening message to Hrant Dink Foundation, suspect E.B. was arrested yesterday (June 2).

E.B. was detained on June 1 as part of the investigation launched by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the second threat. 

The suspect was first referred from the security directorate to the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. Following his deposition at the public prosecutor's office, he was referred to the İstanbul 8th Penal Judgeship of Peace. The judgeship has ruled that E.B. shall be arrested.

In referring the suspect to the judgeship, the prosecutor's office said that he threatened Hrant Dink Foundation by sending a threatening message to its email address on May 30, the investigation had been launched ex officio and the suspect was identified as a result of its inquiries. 

The prosecutor's office also noted that E.B. committed the offenses of "repetitive threats with unsigned letters or special signs by hiding one's identity" and "insulting the President." There are two separate investigations against him based on these two charges, the office added. The suspect was requested to be arrested on both charges.

One more person was previously arrested as part of the investigation launched into the first threatening message sent to the foundation.

What happened?

On May 29, Hrant Dink Foundation released a written statement for the press and announced that Rakel Dink, the wife of late journalist Hrant Dink, and the attorneys of the foundation received death threats via email on May 27 and 28. The foundation indicated that it notified Şişli District Security Directorate and İstanbul Governor's Office of the threats.

"The email included the phrase 'We may turn up one night, when you least expect it', a slogan used boastfully in certain circles, and the very same slogan we were well used to hearing before Hrant Dink was so publicly assassinated, and with the knowledge of official bodies, on 19 January 2007. The threat accuses the Hrant Dink Foundation of telling 'tales of fraternity', demands us to leave the country and threatens Rakel Dink and the foundation's lawyer with death," the statement read.

Süleyman Soylu, the Minister of Interior, made a brief statement about the issue on his Twitter account one day later, on May 30, and announced that the suspect who sent the threatening mails in question was caught.

Later in the day, it was announced that H.A. (25) was taken into custody in the district of Selçuk in Turkey's central anatolian province of Konya.

Taken to İstanbul by the Security Department teams, H.A. has been arrested on charge of "repetitive threats with anonymous letters or special signs."

After the incident, Fethiye Çetin, an attorney of Hrant Dink Foundation, spoke to bianet about the issue and said that the foundation received another threatening message at the night of May 31.

As part of an ex officio investigation launched by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, suspect E.B. was detained in İstanbul on June 1 for having allegedly sent the second threatening message to the foundation. (EKN/SD)