Journalist On Trial For Dink Murder Book

Daily Milliyet reporter Nedim Şener will be tried with "revealing classified information" and "rendering target officials who took part in the struggle against terrorism" in his latest book on Hrant Dink's murder.

Titled "Dink's Murder and Intelligence Lies," Şener's book chronicles security forces failure to stop the murder of Turkish Armenian journalist. If convicted, he faces up to 17 years in prison.

First hearing of the case will be held on 26 June. The case against Şener was brought following complaints by police intelligence officer Muhittin Zenit, Police Department Intelligence Unit chief Ramazan Akyürek and Istanbul Police's intelligence bureau chief Ali Fuat Yılmazer.

"Dink has been murdered through the 'negligence' of numerous public officers and I'm tried with almost the same amount of prison sentences as the proprietors. How could this be in compliance with freedom of expression?" Şener asked, talking to bianet.

"Other than the murderers and me, there's nobody on trial at the Istanbul high criminal court."

"Those who filed a complaint against me are the very officers who failed to act upon intelligence reports which stated that Dink would be murdered. They target me because I made it clear in my book that, with their lies, they have blocked the truth from surfacing during the murder case."

According to Şener, public intelligence authorities should reform their work of conduct.

"Yet they create bogus documents to cover up their lies. Prime Ministrial Inspection Board's report revealed these and stated that Akürek and Yılmazer breached their duties. PM's signature is on that report. And I wrote about it. That's my crime."

Muhittin Zenit, one of the complainants previously filed a case against bianet.org.

"They shot directly on the head. The only difference is he wouldn't run but this one did..." he allegedly told in a phone conversation with Erhan Tuncel -one of the suspects in the murder case.

The next hearing of the case is on 5 May. Zenit demands 25 thousand TL in damages. Moreover, Zenit's case against NTV is also continues.(EZÖ-EÖ/AGÜ)