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Mass protest at editor's funeral
· Murder triggers debate on freedom of speech
· 'We are all Armenians' mourners chant
Benjamin Harvey, Associated Press
Wednesday January 24, 2007
The Guardian
More than 100,000 people marched in a funeral procession yesterday for the
murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. "We are all Armenians,"
chanted mourners in an extraordinary outpouring of affection for a journalist who
had made enemies by calling the mass killings of Armenians towards the end of
the Ottoman empire genocide.
Dink was shot dead outside his newspaper Agos on Friday. The murder touched
off debate about excessive nationalism, free expression and the ability of
Turks of different backgrounds to live together.
Throngs of mourners marched along the five-mile route from the Agos offices
to an Armenian Orthodox church, virtually shutting the city centre. Many
carried placards that read: "We are all Hrant Dinks." Thousands leaned out of
office windows to applaud and throw flowers.
Despite a request from his family not to turn the funeral into a protest,
many also raised their fists shouting: "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism"
and "Murderer 301" - a reference to the law that was used to prosecute Dink
and others on charges of "insulting Turkishness."
Sera, the 52-year-old journalist's daughter, wept as she accompanied the
coffin.
Dink, the editor of Agos, a bilingual Armenian-Turkish newspaper, encouraged
reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia. But public statements about the
mass killings of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century landed him in
court and prompted death threats. Among others taken to court was novelist
Orhan Pamuk, who last year won the Nobel literature prize. The prosecutions have
alarmed the EU, which is considering Turkey's bid to join.
Police are questioning seven suspects, including a teenager, Ogun Samast,
who authorities said has confessed to shooting Dink, and Yasin Hayal, a
nationalist convicted of a 2004 bomb attack at a McDonald's restaurant. Hayal has
confessed to inciting the killing and providing a gun to the teenager,
according to police. The suspects also include a university student who allegedly
"inspired" the attack, Hurriyet newspaper reported. Police confirmed the report
but gave no details.
In a service attended by Armenians and Turks, including the deputy prime
minister, Mehmet Ali Sahin, and the interior minister, Abdulkadir Aksu, Armenian
Patriarch Mesrob II called for expanded freedom of speech and more dialogue
between Turks and Armenians. Although Turkey has no diplomatic ties with
Armenia, officials and religious leaders from Armenia also attended.
--Boundary_(ID_+HwKhSDjKG59SS6qCP8uHA)- -
· Murder triggers debate on freedom of speech
· 'We are all Armenians' mourners chant
Benjamin Harvey, Associated Press
Wednesday January 24, 2007
The Guardian
More than 100,000 people marched in a funeral procession yesterday for the
murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. "We are all Armenians,"
chanted mourners in an extraordinary outpouring of affection for a journalist who
had made enemies by calling the mass killings of Armenians towards the end of
the Ottoman empire genocide.
Dink was shot dead outside his newspaper Agos on Friday. The murder touched
off debate about excessive nationalism, free expression and the ability of
Turks of different backgrounds to live together.
Throngs of mourners marched along the five-mile route from the Agos offices
to an Armenian Orthodox church, virtually shutting the city centre. Many
carried placards that read: "We are all Hrant Dinks." Thousands leaned out of
office windows to applaud and throw flowers.
Despite a request from his family not to turn the funeral into a protest,
many also raised their fists shouting: "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism"
and "Murderer 301" - a reference to the law that was used to prosecute Dink
and others on charges of "insulting Turkishness."
Sera, the 52-year-old journalist's daughter, wept as she accompanied the
coffin.
Dink, the editor of Agos, a bilingual Armenian-Turkish newspaper, encouraged
reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia. But public statements about the
mass killings of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century landed him in
court and prompted death threats. Among others taken to court was novelist
Orhan Pamuk, who last year won the Nobel literature prize. The prosecutions have
alarmed the EU, which is considering Turkey's bid to join.
Police are questioning seven suspects, including a teenager, Ogun Samast,
who authorities said has confessed to shooting Dink, and Yasin Hayal, a
nationalist convicted of a 2004 bomb attack at a McDonald's restaurant. Hayal has
confessed to inciting the killing and providing a gun to the teenager,
according to police. The suspects also include a university student who allegedly
"inspired" the attack, Hurriyet newspaper reported. Police confirmed the report
but gave no details.
In a service attended by Armenians and Turks, including the deputy prime
minister, Mehmet Ali Sahin, and the interior minister, Abdulkadir Aksu, Armenian
Patriarch Mesrob II called for expanded freedom of speech and more dialogue
between Turks and Armenians. Although Turkey has no diplomatic ties with
Armenia, officials and religious leaders from Armenia also attended.
--Boundary_(ID_+HwKhSDjKG59SS6qCP8uHA)- -