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Rep. Crowley Set To Introduce Resolution Condemning Hrant Dink Assassination
ASBAREZ, 1/25/2007
WASHINGTON--Congressman Joe Crowley is set to introduce legislation
calling on the US House of Representatives to condemn the assassination
of Hrant Dink, and to call upon the Turkish government to repeal
the law, Article 301, under which it both prosecuted and sentenced
the Armenian journalist for his statements affirming the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Hrant Dink, editor of the bilingual Armenian/Turkish "Agos" newspaper,
was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul on January 19, sparking
worldwide protests and renewed scrutiny of Turkey's repression of
free speech and international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial.
"We appreciate Congressman Crowley's leadership in seeking
Congressional condemnation of Hrant Dink's murder and are, as a
community, tremendously gratified--in the wake of this tragedy--by
the growing support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution soon
to be introduced by Congressmen Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone, and
Knollenberg," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian
National Committee. Speaking on CNN on the day of Dink's murder,
Hamparian explained that his assassination was "product of the
environment that the Turkish government has created," its persistent
denial that the killings of the Armenians last century did not amount
to genocide.
Among the original cosponsors of the measure are Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead authors Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
George Radanovich (R-CA).
In a Dear Colleague letter circulated to Congressional offices,
the New York legislator described Hrant Dink as "a fierce defender
of the freedom of the press, an outspoken advocate for democratic
reform, and a champion of human rights and tolerance. He was a man
of conviction and principle who believed in democratic ideals and
peaceful change." He explained to his House colleagues that, Hrant
Dink had been "honored by his media colleagues around the world for
his courage and principles and was awarded the prestigious Bjornson
Prize for Literature for his publications on the Armenian Genocide."
Representative Crowley closed by stressing the need for the US Congress
to condemn "this attempt to silence the freedom of the press and
to intimidate the Armenian community in Turkey," and calling on his
colleagues to cosponsor his legislation.
Last Friday, on the day of the assassination, Congressman Schiff
circulated a Dear Colleague letter seeking the support of US
Representatives for a letter condemning the Dink murder and calling
for the repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish penal code. Along
with Congressman Radanovich and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank
Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, Congressman Schiff will soon introduce
the Armenian Genocide Resolution. This measure, which has already
garnered the support of over 130 legislators, calls on the President
to properly recognize and commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
The US Senate is expected to introduce a similar measure.
Below is the text of the proposed resolution:
Resolution
Condemning the assassination of human rights advocate and outspoken
defender of freedom of the press, Turkish- Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink on January 19, 2007.
Whereas, on January 19, 2007, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink was murdered as he exited the Istanbul, Turkey office of Agos
Newspaper;
Whereas Hrant Dink was a fierce defender of the freedom of the press
and speech, an outspoken advocate for democratic reform, and a champion
of human rights and tolerance;
Whereas Hrant Dink was a man of conviction and principle who believed
in democratic ideals and peaceful change;
Whereas, in Istanbul in 1996, Hrant Dink founded a bilingual newspaper
called Agos, in part to foster dialogue and understanding between
Armenians and Turks;
Whereas Hrant Dink was honored by his media colleagues around the world
for his courage and principles and was awarded the prestigious Bjornson
Prize for Literature for his publications on the Armenian Genocide;
Whereas Hrant Dink faced ongoing prosecution under Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide; and
Whereas the United States was founded on the principles of democracy
and liberty where freedom of expression is cherished and protected:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives
(1) strongly condemns and deplores the assassination of Hrant Dink;
(2) urges the Government of Turkey to continue its investigation and
prosecution of those individuals responsible for the murder of Hrant
Dink; and
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to take appropriate action to
protect the freedom of speech in Turkey by repealing Article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code and by opposing individuals in Turkey who
espouse intolerance, intimidation, and violence against individuals
who exercise their right of freedom of speech
ASBAREZ, 1/25/2007
WASHINGTON--Congressman Joe Crowley is set to introduce legislation
calling on the US House of Representatives to condemn the assassination
of Hrant Dink, and to call upon the Turkish government to repeal
the law, Article 301, under which it both prosecuted and sentenced
the Armenian journalist for his statements affirming the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Hrant Dink, editor of the bilingual Armenian/Turkish "Agos" newspaper,
was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul on January 19, sparking
worldwide protests and renewed scrutiny of Turkey's repression of
free speech and international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial.
"We appreciate Congressman Crowley's leadership in seeking
Congressional condemnation of Hrant Dink's murder and are, as a
community, tremendously gratified--in the wake of this tragedy--by
the growing support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution soon
to be introduced by Congressmen Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone, and
Knollenberg," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian
National Committee. Speaking on CNN on the day of Dink's murder,
Hamparian explained that his assassination was "product of the
environment that the Turkish government has created," its persistent
denial that the killings of the Armenians last century did not amount
to genocide.
Among the original cosponsors of the measure are Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead authors Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
George Radanovich (R-CA).
In a Dear Colleague letter circulated to Congressional offices,
the New York legislator described Hrant Dink as "a fierce defender
of the freedom of the press, an outspoken advocate for democratic
reform, and a champion of human rights and tolerance. He was a man
of conviction and principle who believed in democratic ideals and
peaceful change." He explained to his House colleagues that, Hrant
Dink had been "honored by his media colleagues around the world for
his courage and principles and was awarded the prestigious Bjornson
Prize for Literature for his publications on the Armenian Genocide."
Representative Crowley closed by stressing the need for the US Congress
to condemn "this attempt to silence the freedom of the press and
to intimidate the Armenian community in Turkey," and calling on his
colleagues to cosponsor his legislation.
Last Friday, on the day of the assassination, Congressman Schiff
circulated a Dear Colleague letter seeking the support of US
Representatives for a letter condemning the Dink murder and calling
for the repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish penal code. Along
with Congressman Radanovich and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank
Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, Congressman Schiff will soon introduce
the Armenian Genocide Resolution. This measure, which has already
garnered the support of over 130 legislators, calls on the President
to properly recognize and commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
The US Senate is expected to introduce a similar measure.
Below is the text of the proposed resolution:
Resolution
Condemning the assassination of human rights advocate and outspoken
defender of freedom of the press, Turkish- Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink on January 19, 2007.
Whereas, on January 19, 2007, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink was murdered as he exited the Istanbul, Turkey office of Agos
Newspaper;
Whereas Hrant Dink was a fierce defender of the freedom of the press
and speech, an outspoken advocate for democratic reform, and a champion
of human rights and tolerance;
Whereas Hrant Dink was a man of conviction and principle who believed
in democratic ideals and peaceful change;
Whereas, in Istanbul in 1996, Hrant Dink founded a bilingual newspaper
called Agos, in part to foster dialogue and understanding between
Armenians and Turks;
Whereas Hrant Dink was honored by his media colleagues around the world
for his courage and principles and was awarded the prestigious Bjornson
Prize for Literature for his publications on the Armenian Genocide;
Whereas Hrant Dink faced ongoing prosecution under Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide; and
Whereas the United States was founded on the principles of democracy
and liberty where freedom of expression is cherished and protected:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives
(1) strongly condemns and deplores the assassination of Hrant Dink;
(2) urges the Government of Turkey to continue its investigation and
prosecution of those individuals responsible for the murder of Hrant
Dink; and
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to take appropriate action to
protect the freedom of speech in Turkey by repealing Article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code and by opposing individuals in Turkey who
espouse intolerance, intimidation, and violence against individuals
who exercise their right of freedom of speech