Turkish journalist declares being Armenian

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prominent Turkish journalist Ahmet Hakan told CNNTurk channel about his Armenian origin when commenting on court ruling on Agos newspaper editor-in-chief Hrant Dink’s murder.

“In our society the word “Armenian” is used exceptionally as a swearword. So, I declare that “I am Armenian. Do you have mind it?” Hakan said.

Dink was shot dead on Jan. 19, 2007 offices of his newspaper in Istanbul in broad daylight by ultranationalist teenager Ogьn Samast, who was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

The gunman Ogun Samast was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Yasin Hayal, a major suspect in the killing of the Turkish-Armenian journalist, got life sentence for instigating the murder.

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court issued its ruling in the 25th hearing of the case. Tuncel was given 10 years, six months for his role in a McDonalds bombing in 2004. The court, however, acquitted Hayal and several others of charges of acting under a terrorist organization's orders, angering lawyers who say the trial failed to shed light on alleged connections between the suspects and some state officials.