European court fines Turkey 105,000 euros for failing Dink

[Jigs]

Tuesday, September 14, 2010
ISTANBUL - Daily News with wires



The European Court of Human Rights has found the Turkish state guilty of failing to protect the right to life and freedom of expression of slain journalist Hrant Dink, the court said in a statement Tuesday.

The court also found Turkey guilty of failing to protect Dink’s right to due legal process and ordered the state to pay 105,000 euros to the murdered journalist’s family in total compensation, as well as an extra 28,595 euros to the court for expenses, according to the statement, which was released on Dink’s birthday.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that it would not appeal the case at the European court. In its statement, the ministry said precautions would be taken to prevent similar breaches of rights in the future.

The case at the European court was initially an investigation into Dink’s conviction for “insulting Turkishness” in his column in the weekly newspaper Agos. The Turkish journalist of Armenian origin had brought the case against the Turkish state to the European court.

After Dink was killed in front of Agos’ building in Istanbul in January 2007, his family opened an additional case at the European court, accusing Turkey of failing to protect the journalist’s right to life. The two cases were later merged.

Turkey’s defense at the European court attracted widespread criticism after it drew parallels between neo-Nazism and Dink’s perspectives. The defense also said Dink did not ask for personal protection, a fact it suggested meant he was not under threat.

Dink family lawyer Arzu Becerik said the European court’s verdict would significantly affect the ongoing criminal case on the journalist’s murder, private news channel CNNTürk reported.

Becerik said they had informed the European court of their criminal complaints against public officers who had allegedly neglected to protect Dink, and of the lack of results from such complaints.

The European court’s decision on the breach of the right to due legal process will play a role in the ongoing Turkish case about Dink’s murder, Becerik said. The current case in Turkish courts “is not targeting the real criminals and is not capable enough of doing so,” the lawyer added.

“Unfortunately none of the decisions will bring back Hrant; that is why our happiness is bitter,” Aris Nalcı, the legally responsible editor of weekly Agos, said after the verdict was announced.

“What other decision could have been made in a tragic situation like this?” Etyen Mahcupyan, a former editor-in-chief of Agos, asked. “Turkey has become used to these kinds of cases.”

 

[NWO]

Can someone post the details of the case? Like what each side said?

And what did he post originally, anyway?

 

[somebozo]

Well if some moron writes an insulting colum about a nation in their own news paper does he expect government to provide him protection against the resulting anger?? Im sorry his death but this case holds no ground. Who the hell is EU to give lesgislation when Turkey is not even an EU member?? I feel this case is just part of string to hold Turkey by its neck against the carrot of joining EU.

 

[Jigs]

Can someone post the details of the case? Like what each side said?

And what did he post originally, anyway?

He was critical of the Armenian genocide. A 17 year old nationalist assassinated him. While this was going on he was being charged under article 301 for insulting Turkey.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrant_Dink

You can read more about his case and his views here.

 

[anon45]

Well if some moron writes an insulting colum about a nation in their own news paper does he expect government to provide him protection against the resulting anger?? Im sorry his death but this case holds no ground. Who the hell is EU to give lesgislation when Turkey is not even an EU member?? I feel this case is just part of string to hold Turkey by its neck against the carrot of joining EU.

Yes, that's typically expected as a protection of free speech. If the govt could have prevented the death but chose to not, then they are genuinely in the wrong, regardless of the writer's views.

You got a point there with the EU giving legislation to Turkey, though Turkey has wanted to become part of the EU in the past so they may abide by it. If they don't want to then of course there is no power from the verdict.

 

[anon45]

He was critical of the Armenian genocide. A 17 year old nationalist assassinated him. While this was going on he was being charged under article 301 for insulting Turkey.


Hrant Dink - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can read more about his case and his views here.

sometimes I wish Noam Chomsky could be charged for insulting the US

 

[amalakas]

Well if some moron writes an insulting colum about a nation in their own news paper does he expect government to provide him protection against the resulting anger?? Im sorry his death but this case holds no ground. Who the hell is EU to give lesgislation when Turkey is not even an EU member?? I feel this case is just part of string to hold Turkey by its neck against the carrot of joining EU.

Perhaps you should not insult such a man, and maybe you should think that it is these kind of "morons" that provide true service to democracies and serve the press. Also proper goverments protect EVERYONE.. even criminals from anything other than due process of the law.

are you suggesting anything else than that is the correct way to go ????

As far as Turkey is concerned this is just one of those cases that slip through the cracks, I am sure someone didn't do his job right and that is the end of it.
It doesn't reflect bad on the country I want to believe.