Four years after the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, the Istanbul 6th Administrative Court found the Ministry of the Interior guilty of a "severe failure of duty". A compensation claim had been launched by the brothers of the slain journalist, Hosrof and Yervant Dink.
Çetin: Important decision
Joint attorney of the Dink family, Fethiye Çetin, told bianet that this was a very important decision. The lawyer was notified last week. "The decision is very important but it has not been finalized yet. The Ministry of the Interior has the right to appeal", she explained.
Bakırcıoğlu: Ministry appealed already
Joint attorney Hakan Bakırcıoğlu also appreciated the decision for a compensation fine. He indicated that the Ministry of the Interior has filed an appeal already.
Commemorating Hrant Dink
In Istanbul, friends and supporters of Hrant Dink will gather in front of the office of Agos newspaper at 3.00 pm, the time Dink was lethally shot.
A march is scheduled for 7.00 pm, starting at the centrally located Takism Square and going along the Istiklal Avenue to the Galata Square.
The Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) commemorates Dink today (19 January) on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of the founder of the Armenian Agos newspaper. The TGC announced, "The power of the state, the people and we as journalists have the duty to create a peaceful society without racism and discrimination".
A written statement of the TGC administration read, "The instigating focus behind the murder has still not been revealed. We are concerned that the truth will be covered without making it public just as it typically happened in the cases of other journalist murders in the past. We are worried that the trial will be made to reach the statute of limitation".
"Our colleagues that assumed the duty of informing the public correctly and unbiased are working under pressure and threats. Our colleagues are forced to apply auto-censorship in terms of the disunity created by politicians and on the other hand due to articles of the criminal law regarding the press that are mostly being interpreted against journalists".
Torchlight march in Ankara
In Ankara, Hrant Dink will be commemorated with a torchlight march in the evening. Attendants are going to meet in front of the Birgün newspaper building at 6.30 pm and will walk down the centrally located Yüksel Avenue.
The event is supported by the Birgün newspaper, the Ankara Branches Platform of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK), the Ankara Provincial Co-ordination Board of the Turkey Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB), The Revolutionary 78'ers Federation, the 68'ers Solidarity Association, Community Centres, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Labour Party (EMEP), Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), Socialist Party and the Turkish Communist Party (TKP).
Chain of people in Antalya
Left-wing parties and mass organizations of Antalya (southern Turkey) will meet at 5.30 pm in a meeting entitled "labour and democratic forces" in front of the provincial building of the ÖDP.
They will line up a chain of people all the way to the Attolos monument before they will walk to the central Kışlahan Square where a press release is going to be issued.
Further events to commemorate Hrant Dink are planned in cities like Diyarbakır, Izmir and Bodrum. (EÜ/EÖ/VK)
