Turkey: Court sentences suspect to life imprisonment for “instigating” journalist Hrant Dink’s murder

Istanbul’s 14th High Criminal Court has sentenced Yasin Hayal, one of the suspects held in custody in connection to the assassination of Agos Newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief Hrant Dink, to aggravated life imprisonment for ‘instigating Hrant Dink’s murder’. Erhan Tuncel was not sentenced in the Hrant Dink case, however he was charged with ten years and six months in the Mc Donald’s explosion.

Meanwhile, Yasin Hayal was also sentenced to three months for threatening Orhan Pamuk and one year for carrying an unlicensed weapon.

During the case, it was also ruled that all suspects be in the Hrant Dink case be exonerated from charges related to being members of a terrorist organization as well as for aiding and abetting.

Yasin Hayal’s brother Osman Hayal was also exonerated. As the court released their ruling during the Hrant Dink case, tension surfaced in the courtroom. When the situation began to escalate, the suspects were removed from the court. Meanwhile, it has also been learned that the prosecutor will be filing an appeal for the ruling.

OUR CASE IS JUST BEGINNING

Attorney for the Dink family Fethiye Çetin commented following the court’s verdict: “This ruling means that a Fundamental tradition has not been broken. This is the tradition of the state marginalizing certain citizens and thereby creating enemies. This tradition still continues.” Pointing out that the Dink case was a unique opportunity for democratization, which did not fruition, Çetin states, “Today’s politicians have established an alliance with the factionalizing tradition. These alliances are temporary, and last as long as the state does not change.”

Çetin went on to state that the case is not over and for them it is just beginning and they have a long way yet to go.
As the verdict was announced, Rakel Dink’ was unable to hold back her tears.

YASIN HAYAL: “THIS VERDICT DISPLAYS TURKEY’S UGLINESS”

Sentenced to life imprisonment in the Hrant Dink case, Yasin Hayal states, “This verdict displays Turkey’s ugliness.”

After the verdict was released by Istanbul’s 14th High Criminal Court, suspects Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel were transferred to the penitentiary where they were previously detained.

Erhan Tuncel, who was acquitted in the Hrant Dink case, yet sentenced to ten years, six months in the Mc Donalds explosion, refused to answer questions from the press as he exited the court.

18.01.2012
SOURCE: SABAH ENGLISH