Je Suis Hrant, Je Suis Charlie: Armenians across Canada remember Hrant
Dink and Charlie Hebdo journalists
21:19, 20 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Holding signs saying “Je Suis Hrant Je Suis Charlie”, Armenian
communities across Canada held events this weekend defending freedom
of expression and freedom of the press by remembering martyred
journalists of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo as well as
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, assassinated eight years ago
on January 19, 2007. Dink, a journalist and editor-in-chief of Agos, a
bilingual newspaper published in Istanbul, Turkey was shot outside his
newspaper’s offices by Turkish ultra-nationalist youth, Horizon Weekly
reports.
Armenian National Committee of Canada President, Dr. Girair Basmadjian
said “Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had no place in Paris
marching beside other world leaders who champion freedom of expression
and press freedom. Turkey remains the world’s greatest offender
against freedom of expression.”
Dr. Basmadjian added, “Charlie Hebdo cartoonists would have long ago
been arrested under current Turkish law. In contrast to France’s swift
actions to dismantle the terrorist networks responsible for theCharlie
Hebdo massacre, the conspirators behind the assassination of Hrant
Dink remain free to this day. If Turkey cares about freedom of
expression, it must repeal Article 301, protect the rights of its
minority peoples to speak the truth and bring Hrant Dink’s killers to
justice.”
Dink, a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent and staunch advocate of
dialogue between Armenians and Turks as well as the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by Turkey was prosecuted and convicted under Article
301 of the Turkish penal code, and his life was constantly under
threat by Turkish ultra-nationalists. Despite knowing that Dink was
the subject of numerous threats, Turkish authorities did nothing to
protect him and some were even involved in the plot that ultimately
took his life.
Article 301 of Turkish penal code, which came into effect in 2005,
makes it illegal to “insult” Turkey, Turkish ethnicity, or Turkish
governmental institutions. It is one of the most extreme measures
supported by the Turkish government to oppose freedom of speech
especially regarding the issue of the Armenian Genocide.
Unfortunately, eight years later, the Republic of Turkey has done
nothing to bring the true perpetrators of Dink’s assassination to
justice. As well, Turkey still remains one of the world’s worst
offenders when it comes to imprisoning journalists. In 2014, Turkey
passed new laws allowing it to control all social media. Last March,
both YouTube and Twitter were blocked in Turkey despite international
protests, including by the Canadian government. Therefore, it is
ironic that Prime Minister Davutoglu would stand with world leaders in
Paris to condemn the recent attacks on the offices of Charlie Hebdo.
Dr. Basmadjian concluded by stating that “The ANCC stands with all
free-thinking people in condemning any attempt to violently restrict
freedom of expression. When extremists use guns to prevent us from
speaking freely, we must all make our voices heard. Je suis Hrant, je
suis Charlie.”
From: Baghdasarian