‘Second Lottery’ for Ogun Samast
ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)—Turkish newspapers reported on Nov. 3 that Hrant Dink’s alleged murderer Ogun Samast may be released on Dec. 31 due to an amendment to the Laws of Detention of the Criminal Code, which enters into force on that day.
On Dec. 31, Samast will have spent three years and nine months in prison, longer than the three-year maximum the amendment stipulates, and may hence be released.
First lottery
On Oct. 25, during the 15th session of Hrant Dink’s murder trial, the Istanbul court declared that Samast, who was under 18 at the time of the murder, would be tried in a juvenile court—and that the case was therefore outside of its jurisdiction.
The recent change in Law No. 6008, otherwise known as “the stone-throwing children’s law,” which went into effect three months ago and is intended to extend a certain degree of leniency to those being tried under anti-terrorism laws, will apply to Samast.
Prosecutors had demanded a prison term of up to 29 years for Samast, but under the juvenile court’s new law the term cannot exceed 26.5 years; some claim the term will be shortened by 5 years.
According to the Hurriyet newspaper, Hrant Dink’s brother, Hosrof, told the court, “This would not have happened if you had enacted justice swiftly.”
During the same session, the court rejected the Dink family’s request to have the killing reenacted at the site of Dink’s death, and in the presence of Samast.
Seven gendarmes from Trabzon are also being charged in a local court for neglecting to act despite having prior knowledge of plans to assassinate Dink. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that a proposal to combine the Istanbul case with the Trabzon one was rejected by the court.
“Reporters Without Borders is very disappointed by these decisions, especially as they come after the European Court of Human Rights ruled last month that Turkey should compensate the Dink family for failing to prevent his murder,” the organization said in a statement. “The delays, obstacles, and setbacks still dogging this trial seem to indicate a continuing desire to shed as little light as possible on a case of national importance. Turkey seems not to have learned the lesson of the recent European Court of Human Rights ruling. It is this kind of behavior that has led to its fall to 138th position in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.”
In September 2010, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkish authorities “failed in their duty to protect the life and freedom of expression of the journalist Firat (Hrant) Dink.” Turkey was ordered to pay 133,595 euros to the Dink family.
Erhan Tuncel and Yasin Hayal, two suspects believed to have planned the murder, are being tried in regular court.
Hrant Dink, the editor of the Turkish and Armenian weekly Agos, was gunned down in front of his office on Jan. 19, 2007. He had been prosecuted three times for violating Article 301 of the Turkish penal code for “insulting Turkishness,” and had received numerous death threats.
Nanore Barsoumian and Weekly correspondents in Turkey contributed to this report.
Nanore Barsoumian
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So now we need another TEHLIRIAN….!!!
This brave Ergenekon Turk is a national hero … he will be “Alpha wolf pack leader” for entire civilized Turkish population.. his new promising career will be celebrated, as a new young male dancer, at famous Ataturk bathhouse with approval of Mehmet Ali Agca!!
Pashas..
Nanore jan, What this “alleged” murderer is supposed to mean? Is it like “alleged” genocide? He is as alleged murderer as Hrant Dink is allegedly dead. He is not alleged murderer he is confessed murderer who is proud of what he did.
This is, as expected folks. There is no diff between the Summer of 1915 and the Fall of 2010. When a man (a boy?) is given a flag of his country to supposedly cover his sin, you then know justice will not be served. “Soghomons” will be tempted but that is not productive either.
At moments like this we look for Jesus’ return to deliver JUSTICE!
Absolutely disgusting…. i am just apaulled how The Europe can watch this inhumane acts and yet not do anything about it..
What does Turkey represent that no one is willing to stand up to her.. what type of poison runs in Turkey’s vein that no one wants to even touch her…
I just hope that God will punish this man and those who assist his release/pardon to face eternal damnation…..
G
Turkey’s turkish laws, just like all their actions, made to suit the Turk leaderships, Turk murderers, rapists, kidnappers and more of the Turkish Genocide of the Armenians.
Turk leaderships change the rules/laws to suit their own needs… their own Turk desires.
And the world watches this deceit by a nation who is incapable of entering the civilized nations circle… for any length of time… agree/disagree… perhaps/or not.. etc.
Too, as Turks pay USA excongressmen millions of dollars to fight the truths of the Turkish Genocide of the Armenian nation which all the world, historically, is aware.
Too,in the Hrant Dink ‘turk trials’ – what a sham of justice – anywhere in the world!
Too, all the journalists of the world can look at the injustice of the murder of Hrant Dink as one o ftheir own, within the confines of his ancient homeland, is ‘eliminated’ by a so-called youth now is freed “having served less than four (4) years.
Too, the Turk leaderships think we do not observe that the Turk always uses their ‘youth’ to commit such crimes – thus they are able to ‘reduce’ their time in prison, much less to be condemned to death for taking another’s life… Turksih style!
Too, Turk leaders cannot recall that they and their predessors, Ottomans, have committed the Genocide of an ancient and advanced nation of Armenia
Yet, pay the excongressmen to deny their ‘loss of memory’ millions – to disremember!
Manooshag