By: Rupen Janbazian – Toronto
There are no words to describe the deep sorrow and utter anger running through the veins of every single Armenian today. However, what happened to Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007, is not only a stab in the heart for all Armenians across the world, but one for every single soul who seeks the truth in life; a stab in the heart for every voice fighting for the freedom of expression.
Many news reports are referring to today’s tragic events as sudden, surprising, and unanticipated. I’d say it was the exact opposite. What happened today sure startled Armenian communities around the world, however, to say that it was not expected is completely untrue. No, I do not point to the several thousands of death threats Dink received over the last few years (which, by the way, police took absolutely no action after many complaints) as a foreshadow to his untimely death. Today’s events were a direct by-product of the culture created in Turkey over the years. This culture, which is based around hatred, ignorance and downright lies, definitely “showed its true colours” today…
This culture is what I blame as an indication to Dink’s murder.
I mean, how could a government, which has previously convicted this man after he wrote about the Turkey’s refusal to take responsibility for the massacre of the Armenians, stand up today and condemn his murder through the mouthpiece, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. If the government’s stance is, in fact, that Dink’s murder is an attack against Turkey’s unity, why would Dink be subjected to such hate and hostility through several trials and convictions for speaking his mind? If the Turkish government was, in fact, so devastated and hurt by the murder, why would Dink ever think about leaving his country stating that he no longer wanted to live in such a place where “he was not wanted”, and where his people were subjected to such hatred? I mean, was this murder a form of punishment for his choice to stay in the country?
In today’s “developed” world, is it right to charge a man for publicly saying that he is Armenian, and labeling it as “insulting Turkishness”? Turkey today, makes every effort to make their way into the European Union, yet make it obvious, time and time again, with such convictions as that of Hrant Dink, Orhan Pamuk and so many others, that it is, in fact, moving further and further away from “Europeanisation”, and resorting to a new form of Fascism, similar to the principles of an Ottoman Empire which once proclaimed a “Turkey for the Turks”, with a “Pan-Turkic” empire in mind.
Sure, it is easy for the Turkish government to speak out against those who attack freedom of expression today, however, deep down, it is not hard to see that this government is undeniably hypocritical. Condemning those who are not in favour of people expressing themselves freely sure is convenient now, for a government who has strongly opposed the idea of freedom of expression for years. Was Dink’s murder the ice-breaker? Was it the “golden opportunity” for the Turkish government to express their true feelings and beliefs? Sadly, no. Dink’s murder was just an expected convenience to cover up years of lies and hostility the Turkish government has been feeding its minorities, especially the Armenians. It was the perfect occasion to show its “democratic” roots to the watchful eyes of the European Union.
I know it is not right to speak for every Armenian in the world, but today is definitely an exceptional day. It is time for Turkey to come to terms not only with its history, but also with its present day situation. The Armenian Genocide must no longer be covered up and denied when the facts all point to the truth. People should no longer be subjected to hatred, fear, and as we saw today, even unfortunate death, for speaking their minds freely. People should be able to have ideas and opinions which may contradict that of the government. The culture which the Turkish government has created must abandon its old ways, and adopt a platform which actively supports freedom of expression; not only says it does when it is convenient to do so.
Today goes down as one of the saddest days in the history for the fight for freedom of expression around the world. No, not because an eighteen or nineteen year old individual decided to take away Dink’s life, but the fact that the culture created Turkey can drive a young man to take such drastic actions is terribly frightening. Today’s actions remind us that the “democratic” republic of Turkey wants to rid its country of all ethnic minorities, and eventually “Turkify” everyone living in the country. The right to voice an opinion, hold a belief other than that of the government, and ultimately the freedom to express one’s self without restraint must exist in a country which calls itself democratic, and feels ready to be a part of the European Union. Today’s tragic events show us that democracy has failed in Turkey, as the government moves, slowly but surely, in the direction of fascism.
The Genocide continues. What a shame.
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