Round Up: Two Months After Dinks Murder

The investigation and the trial on the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink will have decisive consequences regarding the integrity and the trustfulness of the judiciary system in the eyes of people in Turkey, says joint attorney Fikret İlkiz.

Erol Önderoğlu

It's been two months since the cold-blooded murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink by a young nationalist gunman in front of the offices of his newspaper Agos in Istanbul.

That was the first killing of a journalist in Turkey since 1999. Following day the alleged killing suspect was caught. So far, the investigation enlargened; more than 30 people has been interrogated and 11 got arrested.

"The consequences of this investigation must assure every citizen of the trustfulness and the integrity of the judiciary system in turkey" says Dink family lawyer Fikret İlkiz, talking to bianet.

Noting that it's now time for the investigation to lead to charges so a trial can begin, İlkiz criticized the lack of debate in public around the National Assembly Commission for Investigating Unidentified Political Murders in Turkey.

"No democracy, no one living in Turkey deserves to live in a country left half in darkness. This cardinal investigation is more important for the judiciary in a sense to prove its functioning. I believe all politicians, the government and judges are keen to succeed in this case".

The most important thing was to catch the suspects as soon as possible according to İlkiz and that has been accomplished. Now the public prosecutors must press forward with charges and a fair trial must proceed.

"Journalists and intellectuals of this country have put forth their lives and wrote so all can live where no one is murdered for their thoughts. Their words must be regarded as it's due".

Allegations of negligence

Dink has been murdered on January 19.

While the investigation continues, Dink family lawyers urged the prosecution to assess the crime as an organized action committed by a group, which aims to terrorize the public.

They have also demanded investigation into public servants and officials who disregarded their duties before and after the murder.

It was claimed that a police informant has warned the authorities four times about the suspects' plans to murder Hrant Dink but no precautions were taken in return.

In another account, the images of police officers posing and pampering the main killing suspect upon his arrest caused wide controversy.(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.