Turkey’s newly elected ombudsman under fire over Dink case

PanARMENIAN.Net - Pressure is mounting for Turkey’s newly elected first ombudsman to resign amid criticism from the family of slain Turkish-Armenian journalist, editor-in-chief of Agos bilingual weekly Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in January 2007.

According to Hurriyet Daily News, Mehmet Ömeroğlu, a retired member of the Supreme Court of Appeals, is under fire for his role in an appeals court verdict. He was one of the judges who approved the late Dink’s sentence under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which outlaws “publicly insulting the Turkish nation,” in July 2006.

Dink’s brother Hosof Dink said the appeals court verdict was the late journalist’s death sentence. “Instead of calling those who gave this verdict to account, they are rewarded,” he said.

Ömeroğlu was elected by parliament as Turkey’s first chief ombudsman on Nov 27.

The retired judge responded to the criticisms about the controversial Dink verdict, saying he was not even aware that the name in that case was “Hrant” since it was written as “Fırat,” Dink’s official name in the registered documents, according to a daily Radikal report on Nov 30.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) also called for Ömeroğlu’s resignation. “Under these circumstances, we can say the ombudsman institute in Turkey was stillborn,” CHP deputy Atilla Kart said.