NEWS

It has been 10 years since the founder and editor-in-chief of Agos Hrant Dink was shot to death on January 19, 2007, in front of the office of Agos newspaper. Since then, only a few steps have been taken in revealing the ones who ordered this murder and who planned the murder. Here is a brief timeline covering the key actors and cornerstones of the case that has been going on for 10 years.

One of the judges of Dink murder case remarked on the murder during a trial: “Think about a book. You know what will happen in the end, the moment you start to read it.” It is the exact definition of the process leading Hrant Dink to death.

Dink murder suspect Ali Fuat Yılmazer talked about the claim that he was assigned as the chief to the Office C of General Directorate of Security Intelligence Branch, because he is a member of the Gulenist organization. He said that the minister of interior had assigned him and claimed that Abdülkadir Aksu, who was the minister at that time, should be arrested.

In Dink case, Director of Office C of the General Directorate of Security Intelligence Branch Ali Fuat Yılmazer started to present his defence. Yılmazer accused the personnel of Istanbul and Trabzon directorates of security. He pointed out former chief of General Directorate of Security Intelligence Branch Engin Dinç's relations with Trabzon gendarmerie personnel; he said, “Dinç had inexplicable relations.” He also talked about Ergenekon and KCK operations.

10th round of hearings of Dink murder case will continue today in Istanbul. Friends of Hrant was in front of the court house.

Human Rights Watch reviews more than 90 country in World Report 2017. HRW, in Turkey chapter of that report, states: “The crackdown that followed the coup attempt was symptomatic of the government’s increasing authoritarianism."

Prof. Dr. Nilgün Toker Kılınç, who signed the “Academics for Peace” declaration and is dismissed with the recent emergency decree, thinks that dismissal is an “act of vengeance” rather than punishment.

We talked to Assoc. Prof. Murat Sevinç, a faculty member of Ankara University School of Social Sciences, about the content of the proposed constitutional amendments and their outcomes.

Hrant Dink, the founder of our newspaper, will be commemorated in Istanbul and various cities in the world on the 10th anniversary of his passing away.

The proposed constitutional amendments, which will transfer the executive power to the present, continue to be voted. First and second articles in the package are accepted yesterday. General Assembly will convene at 2 pm today.