Hrant's Friends: ‘We Are on Watch Until Everyone Who Has a Hand in His Murder Are Tried’
Click to read the article in Turkish
The trial regarding the murder of Agos Weekly's Editor in Chief Hrant Dink in December 19, 2007 was held before İstanbul 14th Assize Court in Çağlayan İstanbul on December 4, 2017.
As of now, the third indictment has been approved in the trial. Including the last releases of the suspects in the last two hearings, the trial continues with 85 suspects. 16 of the suspects are in detention pending trial.
Ahead of the hearing on December 4, "Hrant's Friends" gathered in front of İstanbul Courthouse and demanded justice chanting "Justice for Hrant" and "This trial doesn't end till we say so".
"Hrant's Friends" also urged the release of rights activist and businessperson Osman Kavala's who has been behind bars since October.
The press statement of "Hrant's Friends" was read out by Bülent Aydın and is as follows:
"We are in a climate where justice has no criteria anymore"We are here for the 60th hearing that is being held again in the trial of Hrant Dink's murder. Our watch for justice continues. The 18th hearing week will continue before [İstanbul] 14th Assize Court during the whole week. One and a half months later, we will commemorate Hrant Dink on the spot where he was shot and fell on the ground 11 years ago. The lawsuit that was filed on July 2, 2007 has been continuing for 10 years and 5 months. This murder was committed within the knowledge and under supervision of state officials as it happened before everyone's eyes and the evidences were obfuscated later. We have witnessed this in the previous phases of the trial process. Authorities from the police, intelligence agency and the gendarmerie whom we heard in the recent hearings have tried to shift the blame on each other. But in each hearing, we saw again, that noone did anything to prevent Hrant's murder. Our demand of justice in this trial continues. But we are in an climate where justice has no criteria anymore. This climate does not allow to cherish any hope in accomplishing any real results from a healty judicial process. "Osman Kavala does not belong to prison, he belongs with us"The rights defenders including our friend Özlem Dalkıran, who were arrested in Büyükada Plot [detention of rights defenders during workshop in Büyükada], were released in the first hearing. The trial collapsed. Yet within the same days, Anadolu Kültür Executive Board Director and peace culture facilitator Osman Kavala was taken into custody and arrested. Osman Kavala is one of "Hrant Dink's Friends". He is among the ones who has been following this case from the very beginning. He has nothing to the with to do with the shocking accusations he is being confronted with since his detention. We swear by our friend. He does not belong with to the prison, he belongs with us. The hearing that is to start soon, continues with 85 suspects 16 of whom are in detention pending trial including the releases in the last hearings. Important suspects of this week, Trabzon Gendarmerie Commander Ali Öz, Trabzon Gendarmerie staff Metin Yıldız and İstanbul Gendarmerie staff Muharrem Demirkale will be questioned. We will continue to follow this trial until everyone who has a hand in planning and committing Hrant Dink's murder stand trial and are punished. Justice for Hrant! |
(EA/DG)