Reporters Without Borders and ANCC condemned prosecution of Hrant Dink's son
Reporters Without Borders have condemned the decision to prosecute Arat Dink, the son of assassinated Agos weekly editor-in-chief Hrant Dink, and his colleagues. "Once again we have to denounce the use of article 301 of the criminal code, which is a threat to freedom of expression," said Reporters Without Borders.
For its part, the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) called on the Canadian Government and the international community to declare Turkey a pariah nation and to take serious measures to force Turkey to acknowledge its predecessors' crimes against humanity. "Canada, the United Nations, the European Union, and other international organizations and fora should stop treating Turkey with kid gloves and should hold Turkey accountable," said ANCC executive director Aris Babikian.
"Furthermore, article 301 is an impediment to freedom of expression. It is intended to silence dissidents who dare to challenge the official line of the Turkish Government on the Armenian Genocide. The civilized world can not become an accomplice to Genocide denial and in fomenting intolerance, hatred and xenophobia," said Babikian.
The ANCC executive director concluded his comments by drawing to the attention of politicians, the media and the public that the charges against Agos journalists are a "clear manifestation that the Turkish Government is not sincere in its so-called offers of dialogue and reconciliation with the Armenian people. These political maneuverings are nothing more than public relations stunts and diversions to avoid addressing the real issue between the two nations," the ANCC told PanARMENIAN.Net.
Arat Dink and three of his colleagues at weekly have been charged with "denigrating Turkishness," under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
The Istanbul prosecutor office has charged the Agos staff for publishing, on July 2006, an interview with the Reuters news agency, in which late Hrant Dink had referred to the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Dink's family lawyer, Erdal Dogal, has also been charged.
During last Thursday's hearing the Turkish prosecutors called for a prison sentence of up to three years for Arat Dink.
Hrant Dink also stood trial under the notorious article 301 and was handed a 6-month suspended sentence. He was gunned down January 19, 2007 in Istandul by 17-year-old national Ogun Samast.
For its part, the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) called on the Canadian Government and the international community to declare Turkey a pariah nation and to take serious measures to force Turkey to acknowledge its predecessors' crimes against humanity. "Canada, the United Nations, the European Union, and other international organizations and fora should stop treating Turkey with kid gloves and should hold Turkey accountable," said ANCC executive director Aris Babikian.
"Furthermore, article 301 is an impediment to freedom of expression. It is intended to silence dissidents who dare to challenge the official line of the Turkish Government on the Armenian Genocide. The civilized world can not become an accomplice to Genocide denial and in fomenting intolerance, hatred and xenophobia," said Babikian.
The ANCC executive director concluded his comments by drawing to the attention of politicians, the media and the public that the charges against Agos journalists are a "clear manifestation that the Turkish Government is not sincere in its so-called offers of dialogue and reconciliation with the Armenian people. These political maneuverings are nothing more than public relations stunts and diversions to avoid addressing the real issue between the two nations," the ANCC told PanARMENIAN.Net.
Arat Dink and three of his colleagues at weekly have been charged with "denigrating Turkishness," under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
The Istanbul prosecutor office has charged the Agos staff for publishing, on July 2006, an interview with the Reuters news agency, in which late Hrant Dink had referred to the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Dink's family lawyer, Erdal Dogal, has also been charged.
During last Thursday's hearing the Turkish prosecutors called for a prison sentence of up to three years for Arat Dink.
Hrant Dink also stood trial under the notorious article 301 and was handed a 6-month suspended sentence. He was gunned down January 19, 2007 in Istandul by 17-year-old national Ogun Samast.
