Armenian Journalists Facing Prison Sentences in Turkey
{{date|December 25, 2005}}
{{Wikinews Today short infobox}}

Hrant Dink, Arat Dink, Serkis Seropyan and Aydın Engin, all employees of {{w|Agos}}, an [[Armenia|Armenian]] {{w|newspaper}} published in [[İstanbul]], have each been charged with "attempting to affect legal proceedings" by the Sisli 2nd First Instance Court for their alleged attempts to tamper with Hrant Dink's trial earlier this year.  The four [[journalism|journalists]] will be tried under the 288th article of the {{w|Turkish Penal Code}}, and face a possible 6 months to 3 years in jail if found guilty.

In his {{w|indictment}}, the public prosecutor claimed that the defendants attempted to influence the result of Hrant Dink's earlier trial by way of articles published in Agos, of which Dink is the editor.  In response to the indictment, Hrant Dink said, "It is impossible for a man not to be puzzled.  I am the defendant at the same time.  It is a basic right for a defendant to attempt to affect the legal proceedings.  If a defendant is not trying to affect the legal proceedings, then he would do this?  We would go, face the court and see the results."

Hrant Dink was found guilty in October of insulting [[Turkey]]'s national identity, a conviction for which he received a {{w|suspended sentence}} of 6 months imprisonment.  He claims he will appeal this decision.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/3699574.asp?m=1&gid=69
|title=Hrant Dink’in 3 yıla kadar hapsi istendi
|author=Ayşegül USTA
|pub=Hürriyet
|date=December 25, 2005}}

==External links==
*[http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Hrant_Dink Hrant Dink - Armeniapedia.org]

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[[Category:Turkey]]
[[Category:Armenia]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Istanbul]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Freedom of the press]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Journalism]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
Hrant Dink, Arat Dink, Serkis Seropyan and Aydın Engin, all employees of Armenian
Turkey Armenia Asia Europe Istanbul Crime and law Freedom of the press Media Journalism Politics and conflicts