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U.S. Newswire
January 17, 2008 Thursday 7:01 PM EST
Amnesty International Calls on Turkish Authorities to Reveal the Full
Circumstances Surrounding Hrant Dink's Murder
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18
On the eve of the first anniversary of the killing of the
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, Amnesty International calls
on the Turkish authorities to condemn all forms of intolerance and to
bring all those involved in the killing to justice in accordance with
international fair trial standards.
"The scope of the investigation must be widened to examine the full
circumstances of the killing, including the role of law enforcement
officials in failing to act on warnings that he was being targeted
for assassination," said Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International's
researcher on Turkey.
Hrant Dink had reported threats to his life to the Public Prosecutor
in Sisli. According to the indictment in the murder trial, one of the
defendants also acted as a police informer and told the police of the
plans to assassinate Hrant Dink in the months before the murder took
place. Nevertheless, steps were not taken to ensure his protection.
Subsequently two gendarmerie officers were charged with dereliction
of duty; however, lawyers for the family have called for more law
enforcement officers to be brought to justice.
The initial statement by the Istanbul Police Chief that the killing
was the act of a gunman working alone and the photographs of military
police with the alleged killer as if he was a "hero" illustrate an
official reluctance to examine the full scope of the crime and
contribute to the perception that sections of the law enforcement
agencies may be biased.
Amnesty International considers that Hrant Dink was shot on January
19, 2007 because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom
of expression and promoted the universality of human rights.
"Human rights activists have a right to the protection of the state,
like any other citizen. The failure to prevent the murder of Hrant
Dink and the subsequent flaws in the investigation must not be
repeated," Gardner said.
"Hrant Dink's case is not an exception. Many in Turkey continue to be
prosecuted for the peaceful expression of their non-violent opinions.
This is due both to the existence of flawed legislation and the
arbitrary implementation of the law by judges and prosecutors."
Hrant Dink was repeatedly prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code that criminalizes "denigrating Turkishness." Amnesty
International has continually called for Article 301 to be abolished
on the grounds that it poses a grave threat to freedom of expression,
as it is worded in such broad and vague terms. Amnesty International
is concerned that the number of cases opened under this article
appears to have increased in 2007. The organization notes that in the
past year, violations of human rights increased and measures to
combat them remained insufficient.
"The continuing suppression of freedom of expression in Turkey has
created an atmosphere of deadly intolerance culminating in the
killing of Hrant Dink," said Gardner.
In a memorandum to the government sent earlier this week, the
organization reminded it of its commitment, repeated after elections
last year, to further legislative reform and advance guarantees of
human rights and freedoms. Amnesty International believes that the
current government must take action on a number of issues to achieve
lasting, substantive improvements. These issues include torture and
ill-treatment in detention and impunity for the perpetrators, fair
trial concerns, obstacles being placed to undermine the work of human
rights activists and freedom of expression.
"In addition to implementing current legal reforms, urgent
legislative reform must be adopted. The authorities must seize the
opportunity to advance the protection of fundamental rights and
freedoms for all in the new constitution that is being drafted," said
Gardner.
For more information, please contact the AIUSA media office at
202-544-0200 x302.
SOURCE Amnesty International
Contact: Sharon Singh of Amnesty International, +1-202-544-0200 x302
January 17, 2008 Thursday 7:01 PM EST
Amnesty International Calls on Turkish Authorities to Reveal the Full
Circumstances Surrounding Hrant Dink's Murder
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18
On the eve of the first anniversary of the killing of the
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, Amnesty International calls
on the Turkish authorities to condemn all forms of intolerance and to
bring all those involved in the killing to justice in accordance with
international fair trial standards.
"The scope of the investigation must be widened to examine the full
circumstances of the killing, including the role of law enforcement
officials in failing to act on warnings that he was being targeted
for assassination," said Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International's
researcher on Turkey.
Hrant Dink had reported threats to his life to the Public Prosecutor
in Sisli. According to the indictment in the murder trial, one of the
defendants also acted as a police informer and told the police of the
plans to assassinate Hrant Dink in the months before the murder took
place. Nevertheless, steps were not taken to ensure his protection.
Subsequently two gendarmerie officers were charged with dereliction
of duty; however, lawyers for the family have called for more law
enforcement officers to be brought to justice.
The initial statement by the Istanbul Police Chief that the killing
was the act of a gunman working alone and the photographs of military
police with the alleged killer as if he was a "hero" illustrate an
official reluctance to examine the full scope of the crime and
contribute to the perception that sections of the law enforcement
agencies may be biased.
Amnesty International considers that Hrant Dink was shot on January
19, 2007 because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom
of expression and promoted the universality of human rights.
"Human rights activists have a right to the protection of the state,
like any other citizen. The failure to prevent the murder of Hrant
Dink and the subsequent flaws in the investigation must not be
repeated," Gardner said.
"Hrant Dink's case is not an exception. Many in Turkey continue to be
prosecuted for the peaceful expression of their non-violent opinions.
This is due both to the existence of flawed legislation and the
arbitrary implementation of the law by judges and prosecutors."
Hrant Dink was repeatedly prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code that criminalizes "denigrating Turkishness." Amnesty
International has continually called for Article 301 to be abolished
on the grounds that it poses a grave threat to freedom of expression,
as it is worded in such broad and vague terms. Amnesty International
is concerned that the number of cases opened under this article
appears to have increased in 2007. The organization notes that in the
past year, violations of human rights increased and measures to
combat them remained insufficient.
"The continuing suppression of freedom of expression in Turkey has
created an atmosphere of deadly intolerance culminating in the
killing of Hrant Dink," said Gardner.
In a memorandum to the government sent earlier this week, the
organization reminded it of its commitment, repeated after elections
last year, to further legislative reform and advance guarantees of
human rights and freedoms. Amnesty International believes that the
current government must take action on a number of issues to achieve
lasting, substantive improvements. These issues include torture and
ill-treatment in detention and impunity for the perpetrators, fair
trial concerns, obstacles being placed to undermine the work of human
rights activists and freedom of expression.
"In addition to implementing current legal reforms, urgent
legislative reform must be adopted. The authorities must seize the
opportunity to advance the protection of fundamental rights and
freedoms for all in the new constitution that is being drafted," said
Gardner.
For more information, please contact the AIUSA media office at
202-544-0200 x302.
SOURCE Amnesty International
Contact: Sharon Singh of Amnesty International, +1-202-544-0200 x302