Nineteen years ago today, on January 19, 2007, prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist and human rights advocate Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul outside the office of his newspaper, Agos.
His killing silenced one of the most outspoken voices calling for reconciliation between Turks and Armenians and for the protection of human and minority rights in Turkey.
“We are a kind of people that aspire to turn the hell we inhabit into a heaven.” – Hrant Dink
Dink was the editor-in-chief of Agos, a bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper he founded to encourage dialogue and confront taboo subjects in Turkish society. Through his writings and public speeches, he addressed sensitive issues such as the Armenian Genocide and the systemic discrimination faced by minorities, often at great personal risk.
At the time of his assassination, Dink was on trial under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for allegedly “denigrating Turkishness.” The controversial law has long been criticized by human rights organizations for restricting freedom of expression. Dink had repeatedly warned that the legal pressure and public targeting he faced left him vulnerable to attack.
His murder sparked massive protests across Turkey, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in Istanbul and other cities. Demonstrators chanted “We are all Hrant Dink” and “We are all Armenians,” marking an unprecedented moment of public solidarity and resistance to hate speech and political violence. The assassination also triggered widespread international outrage.
Dink was shot dead by Ogün Samast, who was later sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. He was released on parole in 2023, after serving 16 years and 10 months, triggering widespread criticism in Turkey.
Erhan Tuncel, identified as the orchestrator of the assassination, received a sentence of 99 and a half years in prison. Despite these convictions, the case has continued to raise serious concerns over institutional failures, lack of protection, and unresolved questions regarding broader responsibility.
The murder sparked national and international outrage, with critics accusing Turkish authorities of failing to prevent the killing despite clear threats against Dink from ultranationalist circles.
Nearly two decades after his death, Hrant Dink remains a powerful symbol of moral courage, freedom of expression, and the struggle for justice. His legacy continues through Agos and through the ongoing demands to fully uncover the truth behind his assassination.
Today, hundreds of people gathered for the annual vigil held outside the Sebat Apartment building in the ?i?li district, where Agos once operated and which now houses a site dedicated to the memory of Dink. A banner bearing Dink’s photograph and the words “Memory, truth, life, longing” was hung on the facade.
The annual ceremony once again became a platform for renewed calls for justice.
This year’s main address was delivered by Leda Özber, deputy editor-in-chief and visual director of Agos, the Hrant Dink Foundation wrote on its website. Reflecting on Dink’s unwavering belief in journalism, Özber recalled moments when the newspaper’s work seemed to go unnoticed.
“Almost every Agos headline resonated, to varying degrees, both within the Armenian community as well as in the wider society. However, there were moments when there was no reaction at all,” Özber said. “During those times, I would often say to Baron Hrant in disappointment, ‘Who are we publishing this newspaper for, anyway?’ Each time, he would reply: ‘Even if only one person reads it, even if I reach out to just one person, it is worth the effort for me.’”
As in previous years, messages from imprisoned members of the Friends of Hrant were read aloud during the commemoration. A letter sent from Bak?rköy Prison by Çi?dem Mater was read by writer Gaye Boral?o?lu. In her message, Mater emphasized resilience and hope in the face of repression.
“Once again, I lean on your strength,” Mater wrote. “Despite the complicity that comes with silence, we have no right to fall into despair; we shall continue with hope. Today is the day when that hope painfully reminds us of itself. No matter where we are, behind bars or in exile, our hearts and our minds are right here, with this very hope.”
In June 2007, Hrant Dink was posthumously awarded the Armenian President’s Award.
