Hrant Dink Commemorated Worldwide

Thousands assembled one more time in front of Agos newspaper in Istanbul to commemorate Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist who was murdered in 2007. Ceremonies were also held across Turkey and worldwide including Diyarbakır, Izmir, Dersim and New York.

Beyza Kural

Thousands of people rallied yesterday in order to commemorate Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist who was murdered in 2007.

While the main demonstration took place in front of Agos newspaper in Istanbul where Dink was murdered, other ceremonies were held in several cities including Diyarbakır, Izmir, Dersim and New York.

"Buradayız Ahparig (We are here, brother),” people shouted regardless of whatever cities they joined the demonstrations.

Police took notice before the ceremony in Istanbul, blocking Taksim Square and Gezi Park as well as putting barricades in Talimhane and Harbiye districts.

In his commemoration speech, Bülent Aydın from Hrant’s Friends group reminded that the next trial of Hrant Dink was set to February 12.

“All the diversity in this crowd was something that gave Hrant hope. Despite all the threats, he didn’t leave the country as he knew that you were also living here,” he said.

The ceremony ended with the playing of folks songs in Armenian and Turkish from loud speakers.

Chants of Hrant everywhere

Several ceremonies have been held across Turkey and throughout the world. Demonstrators chanted slogans like “We are all Hrant, We are all Armenian”, “Killer state will account” and “We are stubburn, Hrant is our brother”.

Ankara

Photo credit: Atakan Foça

Demonstrators gathered in Güvenpark and chanted the slogan “We are stubburn, Hrant is our brother”.

Devrim Stadium on METU campus

Diyarbakır

Scores of people gathered around Koşuyolu Right to Life Statue and held a commemoration ceremony in Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakır.

“Hrant Dink was an honorable intellectual amid a people of grief. As Kurdish people, we are sharing all the sufferings of fellow Armenian people. We are commemorating hundreds of thousands of Armenians who were killed in the genocide and Hrant Dink himself with our deepest respect,” Tahir Elçi, chair of Diyarbakır Bar Association, said.