Police Protection to Seven Writers

Police department declares that personal protection is assigned to seven writers and journalists who receive threats. The enforcement comes following Turkish-Armenian writer Dinks assassination last Friday. Police was criticized for lack of protection.

Erol Önderoğlu

Police department assigned personal protection for seven journalists that are "threatened by terrorist organizations".

The declaration came following Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink's assassination last Friday.

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered that official police protection should be secured to such individuals independent of their demand for it.

Police forces were criticized for lack of protection for Mr. Dink, who became a target for nationalists because of his words on the Armenian genocide and the prosecution that came after.

Police protection is assigned to Etyen Mahcupian, the new editor-in-chief of Dink's Agos newspaper; Nobel laureate novelist Orhan Pamuk, who was also targeted for his words on the Armenian genocide claims; daily Hurriyet columnist Ahmet Hakan, novelist Elif Şafak, daily Radikal's editor-in-chief İsmet Berkan, daily Sabah columnist Soli Ozel and Yeni Safak commentator Fehmi Koru.

Despite the attempt, there're many more writers and journalists who're threatened and soen't figure on the list.

Sabri Ejder Ozic, who was convicted of the article 301 of the Penal Code and Necati Abay, who received death threats following his comments on Hrant Dink's assassination are two examples. (EÖ/EÜ)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

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A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without...

A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where he began as a reporter in 1996. Since 1999, he has worked at bianet, a project of the IPS Communication Foundation, as the coordinator of the Legal Support Desk, editor for freedom of expression, and editor-in-chief. He has authored more than 4,800 signed news articles and opinion pieces. He has also written for Bizim Gazete and the journal Güncel Hukuk. He currently prepares the Media Monitoring Reports at bianet.