Seventeen years following the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, commemorations are being held in front of the former Agos office in Istanbul, Turkey, the location of his assassination, on 19 January at 15:00 local time.
Hrant’s Friends, the organising group, issued a statement underscoring the ongoing presence of those responsible for the assassination and the inadequacy of the judicial proceedings. They voiced their protest and demand for justice, urging a stronger collective outcry.
In addition to the primary commemoration, various events are planned elsewhere. The Anatolian Music Cultures Association and the ODTÜ Alumni Association are also hosting a commemorative program at ODTÜ Alumni Association Vişnelik Facilities on 19 January at 20:00. The event, titled “Witnesses of Migration in Sound – Gomidas Songs/Ah Kilikya”, will feature performances by Akis Music Group, with L. Doğan Tılıç speaking and guests İsmail Hakkı Demircioğlu and Sabri Ejder Öziç.
Berlin’s Gorki Theatre will hold its annual remembrance event on the same day. Former editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet newspaper, Can Dündar, will read selections from Hrant Dink’s writings, accompanied by music from François Regis, alongside Saro Emirze and Sesede Terziyan. The event commences at 19:30 local time.
Additionally, Activist’s Association Against Racism, Nationalism and Discrimination (AKEBİ) is organising an event in Berlin at 19:00 local time. Lawyers Hülya Deveci and Bülent Aydın from Hrant’s Friends Initiative will speak via a live connection. Musical performances will include Stepan Gantralyan, Selim Kırılmaz, Efe Bahadır and Mozaik Berlin choir.
In Cologne, the Turkish German Cultural Forum, the German-Armenian Society, Voices of Solidarity, and Tüday will jointly host a commemorative event at 19:00, featuring a musical performance by artist Yaşar Kurt.
A commemorative event in Nürnberg, Germany, will be moderated by Eylem Çamuroğlu Çığ from Bayreuth University, featuring speakers Vartan Estukyan from Agos and author Kemal Yalçın, starting at 18:00. The event is co-organised by the European Exiles Council (ASM).
Finally, the Dialogues Without Borders Initiative is holding a virtual commemorative event on 20 January. Registration is required to participate in this YouTube event, moderated by Başak Ertür and featuring speakers Özgür Sevgi Göral, Rober Koptaş and Adnan Çelik, with a musical performance by artist Suna Alan.
Dink was assassinated on 19 January 2007 by 17-year-old Ogün Samast. Samast was arrested in Samsun the following day and incarcerated. However, Samast was released on 15 November 2023, sparking a wave of condemnation and intense debate within the Turkish political sphere.
