Hrant Dink, our compatriot and well-known editor and publisher of the Turkish-Armenian newspaper “Agos”, was brutally shot dead in Istanbul today. The story is being covered by the international media and press services, and there are numerous reports of this on the internet.
Mr. Dink was given a six-month suspended sentence in October 2005 after writing about the Armenian Genocide of 1915. He had received numerous threats from Turkish nationalists who viewed him as a traitor.
The Congress of Canadian Armenians condemns this act of terrorism by Turkish extremists, and joins Armenians around the world in offering our sincere condolences to Mr. Dink’s family. He fought fervidly for democracy, human rights and freedom of speech in Turkey.
In a communique issued earlier today to the 10 largest English and French language newspapers across the country, Taro Alepian, Chairman of the Congress of Canadian Armenians, said:
“Mr. Dink was a responsible voice in Turkey. He had called on the Turkish government to recognize that genocide was perpetrated on Armenians by a predecessor regime in 1915, so that modern Turks can then disassociate themselves from the sins of their ancestors and finally bury this unfortunate event in the pages of history where it rightly belongs. The tragedy of his assassination is strongly condemned. This unfortunate event should now be transformed into an opportunity for reconciliation between the people of Turkey and Armenians around the world. The extremists who killed him should not have the final say.”
The member organizations of the Congress of Canadian Armenians include (in alphabetical order): AGBU Alex Manoogian School, AGBU Montreal Chapter, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Holy Cross Church of Laval, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Montreal, S.D. Hunchakian Party, Society of Armenians from Istanbul, Tekeyan Cultural Association. The statement in this e-mail is also endorsed by AGBU of Toronto and Holy Trinity Church of Toronto.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.