Turkish Daily News titled article in Armenian

PanARMENIAN.Net - On January 24, Turkish Daily News, one of the most influential newspapers in Turkey, issued an article titled in the Armenian language "Goodbye Hrant, we are all Armenians" (Mınasparov Hrant Polorıs Hay Yenk). The article was dedicated to the funeral of Hrant Dink. "Tens of thousands of mourners gathered for a last farewell to murdered journalist Hrant Dink in Osmanbey, one of the central districts of Istanbul where he was shot in front of his newspaper's office building, Agos," the newspaper says.



"The organizers of the funeral deliberately banned political slogans from the rally, as Dink, who had been subjected to various death threats already, had expressly wished. Only leaflets bearing the slogan "We are all Hrant Dinks", "Repeal Article 301"were circulated. Although large, the funeral remained a strangely intimate affair. Members of the Armenian community of Osmanbey, Bomonte and Sisli poured in from the side streets along with famous intellectuals, actors and media personalities. The speeches took place punctually and the melancholy sound of the Duduk, the Armenian musical instrument, preceded the oration given by Dink's widow Rakel. "He left his wife, his daughters, his grandchildren and those who loved him, but he did not leave his country," she said about her husband. After a two-minute silence, a poet read a militant poem by Aydin Engin.