ANKARA: Hrant Dink Commemorated Throughout The World

HRANT DINK COMMEMORATED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

BIAnet.org, Turkey
Jan 20 2014

Thousands assembled one more time in front of Agos newspaper in
Istanbul to commemorate Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist who
was murdered in 2007. Ceremonies were also held across Turkey and
throughout the world including Diyarbakır, Izmir, Dersim and New York.

Beyza KURAL [email protected]

Thousands of people rallied yesterday in order to commemorate Hrant
Dink, an Armenian journalist who was murdered in 2007.

While the main demonstration took place in front of Agos newspaper
in Istanbul where Dink was murdered, other ceremonies were held in
several cities including Diyarbakır, Izmir, Dersim and New York.

“Buradayız Ahparig (We are here, brother),” people shouted regardless
of whatever cities they joined the demonstrations.

Police took notice before the ceremony in Istanbul, blocking Taksim
Square and Gezi Park as well as putting barricades in Talimhane and
Harbiye districts.

In his commemoration speech, Bulent Aydın from Hrant’s Friends group
reminded that the next trial of Hrant Dink was set to February 12.

“All the diversity in this crowd was something that gave Hrant hope.

Despite all the threats, he didn’t leave the country as he knew that
you were also living here,” he said.

The ceremony ended with the playing of folks songs in Armenian and
Turkish from loud speakers.

Chants of Hrant everywhere

Several ceremonies have been held across Turkey and throughout the
world. Demonstrators chanted slogans like “We are all Hrant, We are
all Armenian”, “Killer state will account” and “We are stubburn,
Hrant is our brother”.

Ankara

Photo credit: Atakan Foca

Demonstrators gathered in Guvenpark and chanted the slogan “We are
stubburn, Hrant is our brother”.

Devrim Stadium on METU campus

Diyarbakır

Scores of people gathered around KoÅ~_uyolu Right to Life Statue and
held a commemoration ceremony in Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakır.

“Hrant Dink was an honorable intellectual amid a people of grief. As
Kurdish people, we are sharing all the sufferings of fellow Armenian
people. We are commemorating hundreds of thousands of Armenians who
were killed in the genocide and Hrant Dink himself with our deepest
respect,” Tahir Elci, chair of Diyarbakır Bar Association, said.

Samsun

A sit-in protest was held after the commemoration.

Ä°zmir

Photo credit: Aslı Ä°nanmıÅ~_ık

Ayvalık

Dersim – Hozat

London

The commemoration in London was held in King’s College.

Toronto

New York

Amsterdam