Hrant Dink’s murder is Turkey’s shame and a blot on its escutcheon, popular Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in Posta paper.

The police were aware of the killing but took no action to prevent the crime, Birand wrote in his article, entitled: “Turkey Should Reopen Dink’s Dossier.”

“Dink was killed because he was an Armenian and voiced things, which were unpleasant for many people,” he wrote.

Birand also recalls that Dink was persecuted for a long time. “Dink was charged under article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code. He stood trial but was acquitted by the court. Can you imagine which instance was unhappy with it? The Court of Cassation. It has altered the court verdict and said that Dink insulted Turkishness,” he wrote, Ermenihaber reported.