Hrant Dink

Hrant Dink was a Turkish-Armenian intellectual, journalist, and columnist. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Agos, a bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper that aimed to create a dialogue and solidarity between the Turkish and Armenian communities in Turkey. He was also a prominent member of the Armenian minority in Turkey and a vocal critic of both Turkey's denial of the Armenian genocide and the Armenian diaspora's campaign for its international recognition. He advocated for a peaceful and democratic solution to the historical and political issues between Turks and Armenians, as well as for the human and minority rights of all citizens in Turkey. He was often prosecuted for his writings and opinions under the controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalized "denigrating Turkishness". He also received numerous death threats from Turkish nationalists who viewed him as a traitor and an enemy of Turkey. On January 19, 2007, he was assassinated in front of the Agos office in Istanbul by Ogün Samast, a 17-year-old Turkish nationalist. His murder sparked a massive public outcry and protest in Turkey and abroad, with more than 100,000 people attending his funeral and chanting "We are all Armenians" and "We are all Hrant Dink". His assassination also exposed the involvement and negligence of some state officials and security forces, who were later investigated and tried for their roles in the crime. His case became a symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression, democracy, and justice in Turkey. His legacy and vision continue to inspire many people and organizations who work for peace, dialogue, and human rights in Turkey and beyond.