Like Charlie Hebdo journalists, Hrant Dink was passionate advocate of freedom of speech

Like Charlie Hebdo journalists, Hrant Dink was passionate advocate of freedom of speech –

Toronto event commemorates 8th anniversary of Hrant Dink assassination

The recent attacks in Paris, France, chillingly reminds us that freedom of the press and freedom of speech cannot be taken for granted. Much like the Charlie Hebdo journalists, Turkish-Armenian journalist and human rights activist Hrant Dink was assassinated in front of his bilingual newspaper AGOS in Istanbul.  His writing was thought to be ‘treacherous’ by some Turkish nationalists, and he often received death threats. However, like the Charlie Hebdo journalists, Hrant Dink was not to be deterred. The threats didn’t stop him from speaking up and passionately advocating for freedom of speech, as well as challenging the Turkish government to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

On the 8th anniversary of his assassination, an important event commemorating Hrant Dink will take place at the Armenian Community Centre at 45 Hallcrown Place in Toronto on Sunday, January 18, at 3 pm. This event is free of charge and open to the public, and will include a keynote address from Hrant Dink’s personal lawyer, Ms. Fethiye Cetin. Ms. Cetin defended Dink against charges laid against him by the government for ‘insulting Turkishness’, and after his murder, represented his family in pursuing justice against the ‘real perpetrators’ of his assassination. Raffi Bedrosyan of Toronto will MC the event, and as a long-time friend of Dink’s, will speak about the importance of Dink’s life’s work. A performance by the Armenian singer Lynn Anoush will end the evening.

This important event is being organized in part by the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Canada. Part of their mission is to foster, promote, and pursue fundamental principles of truth, justice, accountability, and responsibility in matters of human rights, genocides, and crimes against humanity. They will be organizing a variety of events across Canada in order to to commemorate the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.Please contact therriaultkim@gmail.com  or visit http://genocidecentennial.ca/ for additional information.