HRANT DINK MURDER CASE

The international organization of Reporters without Borders (RSF), demanded to leave aside the prosecution of authors Nedim Şener and Kemal Göktaş. Both journalists face heavy prison sentences for their books about the assassination of Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

Dink, founder and editor-in-chief of the Armenian Agos newspaper, was killed in front of his office in Istanbul on 19 January 2007.

While justice in the murder case is being delayed, issues without prirority like the prosecution of the journalists are taken care of in a preferred manner, RSF emphasized. "The judiciary has not brought light into all aspects related to the murder. During a process when responsible people in politics and within the police have not been called to account yet, the accusations against Nedim Şener and Kemal Göktaş remain unreasonable and insubstantial", RSF announced.

RSF: Allegations against journalists should be withdrawn

RSF reminded that "writer Şener faces up to 32.5 years imprisonment in three different cases launched on the grounds of his book "The Dink Murder and the Intelligence Lies"; Götaş is facing a five years' sentence based on his book entitled "The Hrant Dink Murder: Media, Judiciary, State".

RSF demanded to withdraw the allegations put up against the journalists and to end the lack of punishment in the murder case which has been going on for three years now.

Şener stands trial at the Istanbul 11^th High Criminal Court, at the Istanbul 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance and at the Bakırköy (Istanbul) 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance. RSF drew attention to the fact that both Şener and Göktaş are threatened by possible prison sentences because they did what was necessary in the scope of their profession as journalists. "We hope that the decisions to be taken related to both journalists will manifest justice".

The Dink murder case with a total of 20 defendants will continue at the Istanbul 14^th High Criminal Court on 10 May. (EÖ/VK)