Journalist Şener Reveals Crucial Information on Dink Murder

Journalist Nedim Şener publishes his new book "Red Friday: Who broke Dink's pen" this week. This is his second publication on the background of the murder of the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. As reported by the Armenian Agos newspaper, a document included in the book provides evidence for the state's responsibility in the murder of Dink.

Dink, founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Agos newspaper, was gunned down in front of his office in Istanbul on 19 January 2007.

In 2008, Fethiye Çetin, joint attorney of the Dink family, requested the court trying the Hrant Dink murder case to investigate whether Dink had been threatened before he was killed.

The court sent an according writ to the Istanbul Police Directorate. The response signed by Ali Fuat, Head of the Police Intelligence Department, read, "No information could be received regarding threats against Fırat (Hrant) Dink in the days before he was killed". The reply of Selim Kutkan, Head of the Anti-Terror Branch (TEM), was in line with that. Apparently, the Istanbul Police did not find an according document in their archives.

A document included in Şener's latest publication apparently proves that the writings sent to court by the Intelligence Department and the Anti-Terror Branch distorted the truth. A document signed by Deputy Chief of Police Hakan Aydın Türkeli dated 2 March 2004 stated that Hrant Dink received death threats from the Islamist ultra-national Ülkücü group and from other individuals via the phone. Türkeli said that therefore security measures should be taken in front of Dink's house and the Agos office. Hence, the state knew about the threats against Hrant Dink. Şener's book provides evidence that the statement of the Istanbul Police saying that they "had no information about threats against Hrant Dink" was wrong.

Police: 'No information about threats'

The document signed by Deputy Chief of Police Türkeli in March 2004 officially states that Dink was threatened by unidentified persons who called him in the Agos newspaper office. The document requests precautions for Dink's home and office.

The court trying the Hrant Dink murder case sent a writ to the Police directorate on 1 May 2008. The court requested information on whether Dink had been threatened in the days before his death and if yes, how often. The court demanded an answer before the hearing on 7July 2008.

The answers from the Head of the Intelligence Department, Ali Fuat Yılmazer, and from TEM Branch Manager Kutkan were received on 24 June and 9 July 2008 respectively. Both writings stated that had no information about any threats in this context.

Lawyer Çetin: 'Dink received dozens of threats'

Şener's book also mentions a petition submitted to court by Fethiye Çetin, joint attorney of the Dink family. In 2008, she requested to investigate whether Dink had been threatened before he was killed. On 17 June 2008, she gave her statement to the Istanbul Anti-Terror Branch.

According to the book, she confirmed the threats against her client, "I was the legal advisor of Hrant Dink since February 2004. I know from that time onwards that Hrant Dink was threatened via the phone and e-mails and by protest groups that gathered in front of the Agos newspaper. He told me dozens of times that he was threatened that way. He only forwarded one of the threats to me in order to inform the prosecution about it. That threat reached him in a letter".

"The threat targeted himself, his son and Agos newspaper employee Serkis Seropyan. Since it was also against his family and the person who wrote it could be identified via the sender, he asked me to start legal procedures by applying to the prosecution. I officially applied in 2005 (...). Our referring petition is included in the file at the Istanbul 14^th High Criminal Court. (EÖ/VK)

Source: Agos newspaper.