ISTANBUL—Ahead of a Hrant Dink trial on November 28, Friends of Hrant Dink protested in front of the courthouse demanding justice for the murders of Dink and Kurdish lawyer Tahir Elçi, Agos reported. Monday’s trial took place on the one year anniversary of Elçi’s murder.
Writer Jaklin Celik read a statement on behalf of the Friends of Hrant Dink, remembering that there are parallels between the murders of Dink and Elçi. “There are many similarities between the murders of these two peace envoys, these two doves. The state has been trying to conceal both of these murders.”
The statement read that the group does not want Elçi’s murder case to be investigated years later, similar to how Dink’s trial began nine years after his murder. Diyarbakir Bar Association Chair and human rights defender
“Though it’s been a year since the murder, which was committed for all the world to see, still there is no suspect or concrete progress,” read the statement.
The statement of Friends of Hrant can be read below.
“We gathered here for another hearing of Dink murder case exactly one year after the murder of dear Tahir Elçi. There are many similarities between the murders of these two peace envoys, these two doves. The state has been trying to conceal both of these murders.
Dink murder remained concealed for many years, though the evidence was staring in our face. They wanted to conceal the murder and abuse it for their political interests. This is still true. The public officials who have a hand in this crime started to stand trial 9 years after the murder. However, we know that the instigators haven’t been punished as they deserve. Just like Hrant Dink, Tahir Elçi was also targeted by the dark forces of this country, which always manage to remain in power. He was shot to death in Diyarbakir that he loved very much; just like Hrant Dink was shot to death in front of Agos. They want to conceal the murder of Tahir Elçi as well. Though it’s been a year since the murder, which was committed for all the world to see, still there is no suspect or concrete progress.
Here, some police chiefs will stand trial once again; they were so powerful once. Probably, they will try to put the blame on each other, just like they did in previous hearings. We will watch them. And we continue to demand justice until everyone who had a hand in this murder is punished. The first step in the investigation on Dink murder was taken 9 years after the murder. We shouldn’t let something like this happen in investigation on Tahir Elçi murder. We cannot let it happen.
We continue to call to account for these two doves of peace.
This case won’t be over until we say it is over.”
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