PEN Center Addressed Letter to Turkish Authorities in Support to Hrant Dink

PanARMENIAN.Net - The International PEN Center has organized a letter for those wishing to write an appeal to the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asking the charges be dropped against Hrant Dink.



The International PEN Center has organized a letter for those wishing to write an appeal to the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asking the charges be dropped against Hrant Dink, the editor of the Armenian-Turkish language weekly Agos magazine and a well-known commentator on Armenian affair

The letter says,



"I am writing to express my concern over the ongoing charges against Hrant Dink, editor of the Armenian-Turkish language weekly Agos magazine and a well-known commentator on Armenian affairs. I understand that he has been convicted to a six-month suspended sentence on charges of 'insult to the Turkish state' for an article on the Armenian Diaspora published in his newspaper. This is just one of a number of cases brought against him in recent months.



I am concerned that Hrant Dink is among the many writers, journalists and publishers who continue to be brought before the Turkish Courts under Penal Code Article 301 in violation of their right to freedom of expression. I therefore respectfully ask that all charges against him be dropped and that your Excellencies conduct a full review of Turkish legislation with the aim of removing and remaining laws that can lead to the imprisonment of literary professionals solely for the practice of their right to freedom of expression."