Trial Of The Controversial Song Praising Dink’s Murder Continues

The case against the four people for publishing in the internet the music video that praised the murder of Hrant Dink continues.

The writer of the song in the video titled “Don’t make a plan”, Arif Şirin, also known as Bard Arif, and the singer, İsmail Türüt, are on trial for the video images that were put on the internet after Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, owner and chief editor of Armenian-Turkish weekly Agos, was murdered in front of its building in broad daylight on January 19, 2007.

The next hearing will be on December 16

The 16th Criminal Court of First Instance of Istanbul is trying, in addition to Arif Şirin and İsmail Türüt, Zeynel Abidin Mutlu and Hakan Öztekin as well for the charges of “praising the crime and the criminal” and “inciting among people hatred and hostility.” They are facing prison sentences from up to 7,5 years.

Head of the court Judge Muhsin Sarıkaya decided to give more extra time to prosecutor Özer Kaya to prepare its counter statement to the expert report. The next hearing will be on December 16.

In addition to the statement by the prosecutor, the next hearing will also evaluate the evidence submitted by Yusuf Sur, lawyer of the accused.

Activists objected to the video clip; Türüt supported it

Various rights defenders such as the Initiative To Say Stop To Racism And Nationalism (DurDe), the Association of Human Rights (İHD), and the Organization Of Human Rights And Solidarity For Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER) had protested folk singer İsmail Türüt for praising Yasin Hayal and Ogün Samast, Hrant Dink’s murderers, in his “Don’t make a plan” song.

However, Türüt had stated to the TV channels that his song had no such intention and he was behind his song hundred percent, although he had also said that he did not approve of the video clip.

The 1st Criminal Court of First Instance of Istanbul had decided to remove the video clip from the video sharing site YouTube. (EÖ/TB)