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International Federation of Journalists press release, Brussels,
19 Jan 2007
WATCHDOG IFJ CONDEMNS "INTOLERANT CULTURE" AFTER JOURNALIST'S KILLING
IN TURKEY
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the
killing of Hrant Dink, an outspoken Turkish-Armenian journalist, who
they say has fallen victim to a "culture of intolerance" in Turkey
which made him the target of nationalist extremists.
Dink, the editor of the newspaper Agos, was shot outside his offices
in Istanbul. Just over a year ago he was given a six-month suspended
sentence in October 2005 after writing about the Armenian "genocide"
of 1915.
The Turkish Journalists' Union also condemned the murder, saying:
"This attack has targeted directly the freedom of press and
expression. It is a profoundly provocative political murder. It will
not be enough to find only the killers. It is an obligation of Turkey
to bring also those who planned and agitated this attack to justice."
The IFJ is supporting its affiliate's call for action.
"This man has been the target of abuse and threats ever since he
dared to express an opinion that challenges an established
orthodoxy," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "It is
scandalous that he appears to have become the victim of a culture of
intolerance that remains deeply rooted in parts of society."
Dink, 53, was a prominent Armenian voice and had received threats
from nationalists who viewed him as a traitor, according to local
news reports. He had expressed concern over what he described as the
hatred some Turks had for him.
He wrote about what Armenians say was the massacre by Ottoman Turks
of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915. However, Turkey
strongly denies any genocide, and says the deaths were a consequence
of World War One.
"This is a great tragedy for journalism. The loss of a committed
journalist touches us all," said White. "But the impact of this
killing goes beyond deep personal loss and strikes at the heart of
free expression rights and the quality of democratic exchange in
Turkey."
The IFJ's Turkish affiliate, Turkiye Gazeteciler Sendikasi (TGS),
issued its statement on behalf of the Turkish media community. The
statement from the Turkish Journalist Union is available at
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=4573&L anguage=EN:
For more information contact the IFJ at 32 2 235 2207
From: Baghdasarian
19 Jan 2007
WATCHDOG IFJ CONDEMNS "INTOLERANT CULTURE" AFTER JOURNALIST'S KILLING
IN TURKEY
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the
killing of Hrant Dink, an outspoken Turkish-Armenian journalist, who
they say has fallen victim to a "culture of intolerance" in Turkey
which made him the target of nationalist extremists.
Dink, the editor of the newspaper Agos, was shot outside his offices
in Istanbul. Just over a year ago he was given a six-month suspended
sentence in October 2005 after writing about the Armenian "genocide"
of 1915.
The Turkish Journalists' Union also condemned the murder, saying:
"This attack has targeted directly the freedom of press and
expression. It is a profoundly provocative political murder. It will
not be enough to find only the killers. It is an obligation of Turkey
to bring also those who planned and agitated this attack to justice."
The IFJ is supporting its affiliate's call for action.
"This man has been the target of abuse and threats ever since he
dared to express an opinion that challenges an established
orthodoxy," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "It is
scandalous that he appears to have become the victim of a culture of
intolerance that remains deeply rooted in parts of society."
Dink, 53, was a prominent Armenian voice and had received threats
from nationalists who viewed him as a traitor, according to local
news reports. He had expressed concern over what he described as the
hatred some Turks had for him.
He wrote about what Armenians say was the massacre by Ottoman Turks
of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915. However, Turkey
strongly denies any genocide, and says the deaths were a consequence
of World War One.
"This is a great tragedy for journalism. The loss of a committed
journalist touches us all," said White. "But the impact of this
killing goes beyond deep personal loss and strikes at the heart of
free expression rights and the quality of democratic exchange in
Turkey."
The IFJ's Turkish affiliate, Turkiye Gazeteciler Sendikasi (TGS),
issued its statement on behalf of the Turkish media community. The
statement from the Turkish Journalist Union is available at
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=4573&L anguage=EN:
For more information contact the IFJ at 32 2 235 2207
From: Baghdasarian