“We are all Hrant Dink”
Early today, Hrant Dink was shot dead outside his newspaper office in Istanbul, followed by a mass rally by almost all 60,000 of Istanbul’s Armenian community. Pictures of Dink were held up while people chanted, “WE ARE HRANT DINK.”
Dink, editor of the Akros weekly newspaper, community leader, and prominent intellectual, was an example to Armenians worldwide. Living in the heart of Istanbul, his actions symbolized the struggle of having pride for living in modern day Turkey while not just maintaining, but strengthening the Armenian faith and culture. His aim was always to improve the Turkish and Armenian relationship.
In 2005, Dink was given a suspended six-month sentence for insulting Turkish Nationalism by discussing the affect the Armenian Genocide has on Armenians in the diaspora. Despite years of death threats, Dink never changed his Armenian faith or his prideful challenge to Turks to come to terms with their past. This same charges were handed to Orhan Pamuk, Turkish author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, for his comments on the Armenian Genocide. Criminal charges were later dropped.
In late 2006, France’s lower house approved a bill, making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide. Dink replied, “Turkey and France can race to see who can jail me first.” This comment highlights Dink’s eternal commitment to engage Turks and Armenians in a dialog to find common ground and move forward.
A strong voice of dissent inside Turkey, Dink�s leadership, through commitment and struggle was monumental.� Hrant Dink fought for more than just the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He was extremely unique as an Armenian who fought for social and political change from inside Turkey. Now a martyr, Dink�s leadership and commitment will be venerated by all.� �We are all Hrant Dink.�
God illuminate his soul. Asdvadz Hokin Loosavore.
The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America will hold a special vigil tonight at 20:00 at the Diocesan Headquarters, in Burbank, and would like to invite the faithful to join us in this solemn occasion. A short video will be shown of Mr. Dink�s recent visit to the Diocese on 5 November, 2006.
January 20th, 2007 at 4:27 am
Just a comment. The rally was spontaneous and consisted of Turks and Armenians alike. Hrant Dink was a compatriot that I was proud to have and am moved to tears to lose. Those were the feelings we had last night at the rally. I don’t think anybody stopped to ask anybody else what ethnicity they were. It was compatriots against the killing of a great man.