Another Criminal Case Initiated against Hrant Dink

PanARMENIAN.Net - December 25 the Turkish court initiated a new criminal against Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of Akos Armenian newspaper published in Istanbul. Basing on the suit brought by the Turkish Union of Lawyers a new criminal case was as well initiated against three journalists of Akos for the attempt "to exert pressure upon court." In October Hrant Dink was put to 6 months' probation for "outraging the Turkish nation" by criticizing Article 301 of the reviewed Criminal Code. It means that the "journalist of Armenian origin will not be deprived of liberty if he doesn't repeat his actions." The editor-in-chief appealed the verdict in the Turkish Supreme Court. In case the new accusation is confirmed Hrant Dink and three journalists may be sentenced to imprisonment from 9 months to 4.5 years. Hrant Dink stated it's his right to criticize the verdict brought in October and if the Supreme Court confirms it, he will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights." To remind, in an article published in early 2004 Hrant Dink called upon Armenians "to overcome the hostility against Turks, since it poisons the blood." Akos editor Karin Karakashli voiced opinion that the court withdrew these words and accused Dink of calling the Turkish blood poisonous. Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk was accused according the same article on the initiative of the Union of Lawyers. Even Turkish analysts and journalists say that these court examinations caused more damage to Turkey's international authority that Pamuk's statements on the genocide perpetrated against 1 million of Armenians and 30 thousand Kurds.