Turkish journalist tried for insulting officials

Turkish journalist tried for insulting officials

Associated Press Worldstream

June 10, 2009 Wednesday 8:03 AM GMT

A Turkish journalist says he is going on trial for claiming an
intelligence cover-up over the murder of ethnic Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink.

Nedim Sener, speaking on his way to the opening hearing in Istanbul
Wednesday, said he is facing up to 28 years in prison if convicted in
two cases on charges of obtaining classified documents and insulting
government officials.

Sener’s book, "Dink Murder and Intelligence Lies," says police and
military officials ignored tips about the 2007 murder. The government
has launched an investigation into the allegations.

Sener says "this case is aimed at intimidating journalists."

Dink had angered Turkish nationalists with assertions that the mass
killings of Armenians around the time of World War I was genocide.