Hrant’s Friends on Watch at 75th Hearing

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Trial concerning killing of Agos Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Hrant Dink continued at İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court in Çağlayan Courthouse in İstanbul today (July 10).

Gathering in front of Çağlayan Courthouse’s Door C ahead of 75th hearing, Hrant’s Friends chanted slogans “For Hrant for justice” and “This trial won’t be over unless we say so”.

Speaking on behalf of Hrant’s Friends, Bülent Aydın said:

“Hrant Dink was murdered on January 19, 2007. The first hearing in which hitmen are tried was held on July 2, 2007. The facts are still unknown in the trial that lasted 11 years. Those who gave the order are still not tried.

“Acquaintances of those who were massacred in political homicides were in front of Beşiktaş courthouse as well. We were there too. ‘We’re all witnesses’, we said and we’ve been sustaining our persistence since then.

“Those murders have remained unsolved throughout the years. This murder couldn’t be hushed up but hasn’t been shed light on either. Witness will be heard for three days. Our justice watch will continue throughout the hearings. This trial won’t be over unless we say so. For Hrant for justice”.

What happened since last hearing?

There are 81 defendants including Fethullah Gülen, Zekeriya Öz, Ekrem Dumanlı, Adem Yavuz Aslan, former Intelligence Bureau Director Engin Dinç, then Intelligence Bureau Director Ramazan Akyürek, then İstanbul Provincial Security Director Celalettin Cerrah and then Trabzon Provincial Regiment Commander Ali Öz in the case.

24 people were discharged in the recent year, according to Agos weekly newspaper.

There are 71 defendants seven of whom are pending trial in jail and 10 fugitives. (EA/HK/TK)