20,000 TL Fine for TRT due to Defamation of Journalist Dink

The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) was sentenced to a monetary fine of 20,000 Turkish Lira (TL) (approx. € 9,525) in compensation by the Istanbul 4^th Criminal Court of First Instance on the grounds of a defamation of assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. TRT had broadcasted a program about the Maraş massacre in which prime suspect of the massacre Ökkeş Şendiller held murdered journalist Dink responsible for the events. According to official numbers, 111 people, mostly Alevis, died in the Maraş Massacre from 19 to 25 December 1978.

The court sentenced TRT, the Bey Production Company and Şendiller to a total of TL 20,000 in compensation on 24 February. The decision was announced on 1 March. The reasoning of the decision will be published in the coming days. TRT is expected to lodge an appeal against the decision.

The documentary "Maze of the Kings" ('Şahların Labirenti') subject to the decision was broadcasted on TRT on 24 December 2008. The Dink family lawyers had sued Şendiller and TRT officials with an initial compensation claim of TL 40,000.

Words of the massacre suspect

Şendiller was the prime suspect of the massacre but was acquitted. In the program he said, "It was not a conflict between Alevi and Sunni. Left-wing organizations established by Hrant Dink and his friends were involved. Hrant Dink and the organizations of his friends did it. There were six or seven uncircumcised people among the dead bodies, what do they have to do with Alevis or Sunnis anyhow?" These words of Şendiller caused strong reactions in the country.

The Dink family lawyers filed the court case after TRT had not broadcasted the disclaimer sent to the corporation by the lawyers.

The Media and Communication Workers Union (Haber-Sen) condemned Şendiller's invitation to the program and declared that TRT General Director İbrahim Şahin was to held responsible for the program.

According to Haber-Sen, Şendiller's real name was Ökkeş Kenger before he changed his surname. The union drew attention to the fact that a case against Kenger/Şendiller was dropped in 1991 due to the enforcement of the Anti-Terror Act (TMY). In the same year, Şendiller entered the parliament with the Welfare Party-Nationalist Working Party coalition. After that he moved on to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Haber-Sen furthermore reminded that later on Şendiller founded the Great Union Party (BBP) together with BBP leader Muhsin Yazicioğlu. Both co-founders were seen on a photograph together with the murderer suspects of the Hrant Dink assassination. (EÖ/VK)