Hrant Dink Protest: English Address
To millions of Armenians worldwide, and to thousands more advocates of human rights and democracy, Hrant Dink is a hero. His murder and others like his are unfortunately only too familiar to us. For centuries, Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire have experienced death and destruction. But for most of us, Hrant Dink was an icon of hope.
His message clear and simple.
He had repeatedly critisised Turkey for its mistreatment of ethnic minorities, in particular the Armenian community and Turkeys continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
For many years Turkish authorities have attempted to deny him the right of freedom of speech until finally, last year after numerous attempts he was found guilty of article 301 – defined as ‘insulting Turkishness’ and given a 6-month suspended sentence. His crime was the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Today, 92 years after the Turkish government committed Genocide against our ancestors, we find that they have not moved a step forward. The government of Turkey today, has continued the path set by their forefathers. This is the path that led to the slaughter of more than one and a half million innocents. More than one and a half million Armenian men, women and children. We are here once again, where the actions and direction from the leaders of Turkey have led to the murder of a man whose only ambition was to speak freely.
Even after this abhorrent tragedy, the Turkish government wishes us to believe that a lone 17 year old boy, is solely responsible for this conspiracy. A 17 year old drug addict, who had only that week arrived in Istanbul.
Enough is enough. We are sick of the lies. We are sick and tired of the denial.
It is incumbent upon the Turkish government to find the masterminds of this crime. It is up to them, to find the evil that has taken this great man from us. The responsibility falls upon a country claiming to move towards democracy. In reality a manipulation, all designed to one day help Turkey enter the European community.
Fellow activists for human rights, the truth is before us in the form of a grave injustice enforced by the Turkish government and a terrible tragedy born from an environment of hate and intimidation.
The hateful teachings fostered by Turkeys political system, have moulded the minds of Turkish youths, teaching them the denial of truth and tolerance and to embrace racism and extremist behaviour - the proof of which is the assasination of our beloved Hrant Dink.
As an Australian Armenian and recipient of the strong values of this wonderful nation, we ask our government to lead all Australians by joining us in our demand for justice. For this is not an Armenian issue, but an issue of humanity.
The Turkish state has an undeniable responsibility for this murder. This is a country where speaking the truth, and, expressing ideas and thoughts counter to those of the mainstream can lead to imprsionment. This is a country where the authorities refuse or are incapable of providing adequate security for journalists and intellectuals. And now this is a country where its continued campaign of denial, threats and intimidation, have seen the silencing of truth and the murder of a much loved man who will be sorely missed by all Armenians, wherever we may be.
Fellow advocates of human rights, the onus is now on us to continue Hrant's struggle for humanity.
For 'We are all Hrant Dink... We are all Armenian...'
