(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders said it was baffled by an appeals court decision to uphold a six-month suspended prison sentence against Hrant Dink, managing editor of the weekly “Agos”, for referring to the 1915 genocide against the Armenians. On 12 July 2006, Dink was sentenced on appeal in connection with a 13 February 2004 […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders said it was baffled by an appeals court decision to uphold a six-month suspended prison sentence against Hrant Dink, managing editor of the weekly “Agos”, for referring to the 1915 genocide against the Armenians.
On 12 July 2006, Dink was sentenced on appeal in connection with a 13 February 2004 column in “Agos”, for which he was found guilty of “insulting Turkish identity” under Article 301 of the Criminal Code.
The ethnic Armenian had called on Armenians to “now turn their attention to the new life offered by an independent Armenia”.
“We are surprised by this conviction which is particularly shocking for the entire profession,” said the press freedom organisation. “This ruling will strengthen the climate of self-censorship on subjects which are seen as sensitive by the Turkish state.”
“Turkey’s criminal law is among Europe’s most repressive towards freedom of expression. It is unacceptable that criticism of institutions or offences of opinion should be liable to prison sentences. The Criminal Code, particularly Articles 301 and 125, should be urgently amended to conform to European standards,” it added. “Turkey has been condemned at least five times by the European Court of Human Rights since the start of 2006, for its failure to respect free expression.”
One of the journalist’s lawyers, Fethiye Cetin, told Reporters Without Borders that she was waiting to formally receive the court’s decision so that she could appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Dink is facing up to three years in prison in connection with another trial in which he is accused of “trying to influence the course of justice”.
