İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu Visits ‘23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory’

* Photo: İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality

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Metropolitan Mayor of İstanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu has visited "23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory" dedicated to the memory of late journalist Hrant Dink, the Editor-in-Chief of Agos newspaper massacred on January 19, 2007.

Visiting the site of memory yesterday evening (January 2), İmamoğlu was accompanied by Dink's wife Rakel Dink and daughter Delal Dink.

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After Hrant Dink was murdered in front of the former office of Agos newspaper at Sebat Apartment in Şişli, İstanbul on January 19, 2007, the apartment has acquired a special place in the public conscience and collective memory. Accordingly, the office of the newspaper has now been hosting the 23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory since June 17, 2019.

Delal Dink: It is an invitation for hope and future

Informing İmamoğlu about the memories of her father exhibited in the site, Delal Dink explained the story of site's name in following words:

"My father has an article on how April 23 [National Sovereignty and Children's Day] is celebrated with enthusiasm and how sorrowful he feels on April 24 [marked as the start of Armenian genocide]. It is also the marriage anniversary of my mother and father.

"It is, in fact, an invitation; it is an invitation for hope and future. It is an invitation like 'If we can unite the children in Armenia too, if we build another future, we can perhaps meet on 23.5.'

"This site is also an invitation for everyone in Turkey. That is why, we wanted to carry his language and his invitation further with this site."

Visiting the office of Hrant Dink, which has been kept as it was on January 19, 2007, Rakel and Delal Dink seemed moved.

İmamoğlu attached the note "Everything will be fine", his election slogan, to the message board in memory of Dink.

Speaking about the "23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory" and the deceased journalist, İmamoğlu stated the following in brief:

İmamoğlu: We go through a period full of 'I wish's

"When the foundation visited me, I heard the existence of such a museum. I think, late Hrant Dink was a very important and precious voice of our society. Unfortunately, he fell victim to a murder, he was massacred.

"It is a very sad incident for our history, for our country. And we feel his sorrow whenever we hear his name. Most of the time, we go through a period full of 'I wish's. These incidents and these people should be kept fresh in minds so that we will not experience these 'I wish's' again.

'A person with a word for peace was massacred'

"We have to know our recent history. If we do not know it, we cannot take a step. The most important thing here is experience. It is not possible to gain it by experiencing. But, some people experienced it. Why should we experience tragic events again?

"In fact, a person who had a word for peace, who wanted to contribute to peace was massacred. It is very special that this feature of Hrant Dink is represented here and how he felt, what he heard and what he actually wanted to say are directly expressed here with his own records and sources.

"I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this. I have felt that I now visit a very special museum in İstanbul. May your soul rest in peace, Hrant Dink." (HA/SD)