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Serj Tankian Speaks Out on Murder of Armenian Journalist |
Posted by wemple on Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 10:39 AM
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I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Hrant Dink's murder (more like assassination) today in front of his Agos newspaper offices, in Istanbul Turkey.
I met Hrant Dink at the L.A. premiere of "Screamers", the documentary by Carla Garapedian featuring System Of A Down. Hrant is interviewed by Carla in the film where he explains how the "deep state" in Turkey is utilizing an outdated penal code, Article 301 to try him, Orhan Pamuk, and other journalists, writers, and human rights activists for "insulting or offending Turkishness."
In his newspaper Agos, Hrant discussed issues important to the Armenians of Turkey. He was quite careful not to insult anyone in Turkey present or past regarding the Armenian Genocide or any other "sticky issues" that may be taken negatively. He instead tried to truly understand why so many people in Turkey were in denial of their past, why it was important to have a "real democracy" there where everyone can speak freely without worrying about retributions. He was by no means a fanatic nor extremist, but was a humble, kind, yet truthful individual who cared about Turkey, his country, and being Armenian, his culture and heritage.
He yearned to bridge the understanding between Armenians and Turks to get over the pains of the past stemming from the Armenian Genocide by the Ottomans in 1915. The difference between Hrant Dink and Orhan Pamuk and other writers or journalists incriminated under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code was that Hrant Dink was of Armenian descent and therefore may have been viewed more so as a traitor than other Turks of Turkish descent.
After many attempts at appealing the 3 different cases brought against him in reference to Article 301, Hrant was ready to take his case of freedom of speech to the European Court of Human Rights. In the last article he wrote for Agos on Jan. 10th, he made it very clear that the overwhelming amount of death threats against him were psychologically punishing him for speaking out. He felt his life was in extreme danger and asked for help from security officials of the country, but was not given any. When friends encouraged him to leave Turkey to avoid danger, he said that if he left now, he would be betraying the fight for democracy in Turkey, and that wouldn't be fair to others in his situation. I am not that heroic, I would have left. And funny enough when we met, he mused with me, calling me heroic, the whole time while I looked into his gentle eyes and knew in my heart that he was the true hero. It's easy for me to speak out against things, because at worst, I'll be faced with brutal disagreement, where he was faced with prison terms, harassment, psychological torture, and now death.
So he was killed, brutally, in daylight, with bullets to the head, another beautiful soul silenced no more.
Hrant Dink's cases along with Orhan Pamuk's past case and many others facing incrimination in Turkey under Article 301 of the penal code encouraged me to work with Amnesty International in getting the word out and working on trying to reverse this unjust incrimination of the freedoms of speech there.
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Comments
Kasiasat
28.01.07, 13:06
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Serj is really very clever man. That murder is horrible...in future next people can die...
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Jenn38
28.01.07, 15:36
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Horrible!!!!!!!!!!!
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AK
28.01.07, 17:18
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speechless....
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~*[claire]*~
28.01.07, 18:53
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this is disgraceful... well done Serj.
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gypsyseika
28.01.07, 18:58
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Amnesty International is a wonderful organization that I have supported for many years. Serj again shows his amazing humanitarian side by speaking out. It's horrible that murders and other atrocities have to happen before anyone takes notice in this world....
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SystemCrAzY
28.01.07, 22:51
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Wow this is just.. well i dont even know bcuz everyone else already said it.
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tiffanyevett
28.01.07, 23:47
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i think serj is a very clever man as well, i was horrible for the death of Hrant Dink, R.I.P. luv tiff
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mrs.tankian13
29.01.07, 00:24
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im afraid for serj...he speaks out too, and you know, what if something bad happens to him o_O
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reinayamaoka
29.01.07, 01:33
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oh, that is so sad. i'm glad serj acknowledges these things
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Kathleen
29.01.07, 03:31
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KHANAGHUTYUN!
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soulieLA
29.01.07, 03:40
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Heart breaking! I am so very tired of the violence in this world. Most seem to know better, but there are the few who want to fuck it up for everyone!! Shame on them! My heart and love goes out to those of us who do know better and choose to live our lives in peace!
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biohazard6686
29.01.07, 09:07
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u know what...after hearing this news i got kinda scared and worried about soad's members' safety now...i mean,we've seen a lot of people who hate soad cos they're really active in this armenian genocide thing,and well,knock on wood,but it's really possible for them to be...u know....assassinated........ or maybe i'm just being paranoid...god forbids that'll ever happen tho....
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alma
29.01.07, 09:55
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I wonder how much courage and how much love for justice must have been inside Dink. Rest in Peace! Will there ever be peace in this world? Will there ever be justice? I am losing hope.
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adibtankian
29.01.07, 13:36
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to be brave because of the truth, and to be SCARE because of the lie. better die by the truth than live in lie. Turkey is SCARE, thats why they killed the "truth"
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Dorotea
29.01.07, 19:46
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This is all just too much...and so sad :(
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Yumatira
29.01.07, 20:38
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It's horrible that he got murdred because of th ethings he stand for.. Just.. Ive got no words for it.. its just.. when you shoot everyone who doesnt agree with you.. there aren'tmuch ppl left in this world.. And agree with serj.. I don't know the whole guy.. But if I hear this tings.. I think he was a great human.. a hero, another great soul... RIP, may your dreams come true..
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daron=god
29.01.07, 23:39
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R.I.P Hrant Dink mother fuckers, who does that
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ez2dj
30.01.07, 01:31
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omg fuck turkey. muslims.
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