Ethnic Armenian Writer Hrant Dink Assasinated

Turkish-Armenian writer and journalist Hrant Dink has been shot dead today while leaving the newspaper where he worked.

Dink, 53, was subjected to prosecutions and harrasement by nationalists concerning his views on the Armenian genocide claims and Turkey's approach to the issue.

He was a public figure in Turkey - one of its most prominent Armenian voices. Despite all harrasement, he always insisted that he's a Turkish citizen will fight for his right to free speech.

The police is looking for a young man as described by eye witnesses in relation to the murder. Friends tell Dink was receiving threats.

His life

Dink was born in 1954 in Malatya. When his parents divorced after moving to İstanbul in 1961, Hrant and his two brothers were placed in an Armenian orphanage in Gedikpasa.

He was influenced by the socialist movement in his youth. Following his graduation from İstanbul University he married to Rakel who he had met in the orphanage.

While working in the publishing house he established with his brothers, Dink also managed with his wife the Tuzla Armenian Children's Campus where poor children were placed. The campus was confiscated by the state after 21 years of its establishment.

Dink began his writing career with book reviews for magazines published by ethnic Armenians in Turkey. Criticizing the closeness of the Armenian community, he moved on to establish Agos, a newspaper in Turkish and Armenian in 1996.

Hrant Dink promoted a culture of solidarity and peace between erthnic Armenians and Turks. He also called on the Armenian diaspora to evaluate the events of 1915 without a fixation on genocide but couldn't avoid being punished for insulting Turkishness at home.(EÜ)