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Manchester.com, UK
Jan 20 2007
Armenian anger at editor's assassination in Turkey
20/01/2007
Armenian authorities have lashed out against Turkey following the
assassination of a newspaper editor in Istanbul.
Hrant Dink, 53, was the editor of Turkey's only Armenian newspaper
Agos.
He was gunned down as he was leaving his office in Istanbul yesterday
afternoon. The editor had been a target of threats over his comments
on the genocide of Armenians before the first world war.
Turkey has denied that the genocide took place, saying that the
deaths were part of the war. Last year, the editor was convicted for
insulting Turkey for his writings over the alleged genocide.
Mr Dink had asked for police protection over the numerous threats
that he had received. In his last editorial, he wrote that he had not
received protection despite his requests.
The assassination has prompted protests by thousands of people in
front of the newspaper's offices. The Armenian government has
condemned the attack, with the speaker of the house telling Turkey to
"not even dream" about joining the European Union.
Armenian president Robert Kocharian said: "The killing of this
well-known Armenian journalist in Turkey raises numerous questions
and deserves the strongest condemnation.
"We hope that the Turkish authorities will do everything possible to
find and punish the culprit strictly in accordance with the law."
Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the killing
saying that "a bullet has been fired at democracy and freedom of
expression". Three men have already been arrested over the editor's
death, according to Turkish media.
A statement from Agos this morning said: "There are no words to
explain our pain. Our deepest condolences for those who can still
feel themselves as human beings."
Jan 20 2007
Armenian anger at editor's assassination in Turkey
20/01/2007
Armenian authorities have lashed out against Turkey following the
assassination of a newspaper editor in Istanbul.
Hrant Dink, 53, was the editor of Turkey's only Armenian newspaper
Agos.
He was gunned down as he was leaving his office in Istanbul yesterday
afternoon. The editor had been a target of threats over his comments
on the genocide of Armenians before the first world war.
Turkey has denied that the genocide took place, saying that the
deaths were part of the war. Last year, the editor was convicted for
insulting Turkey for his writings over the alleged genocide.
Mr Dink had asked for police protection over the numerous threats
that he had received. In his last editorial, he wrote that he had not
received protection despite his requests.
The assassination has prompted protests by thousands of people in
front of the newspaper's offices. The Armenian government has
condemned the attack, with the speaker of the house telling Turkey to
"not even dream" about joining the European Union.
Armenian president Robert Kocharian said: "The killing of this
well-known Armenian journalist in Turkey raises numerous questions
and deserves the strongest condemnation.
"We hope that the Turkish authorities will do everything possible to
find and punish the culprit strictly in accordance with the law."
Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the killing
saying that "a bullet has been fired at democracy and freedom of
expression". Three men have already been arrested over the editor's
death, according to Turkish media.
A statement from Agos this morning said: "There are no words to
explain our pain. Our deepest condolences for those who can still
feel themselves as human beings."