Özgür Özel reacts to the release of Ogün Samast

Reactions are growing over the release of Ogün Samast, who murdered Agos Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Hrant Dink in front of the newspaper's building in Şişli, Istanbul, on January 19, 2007. Responding to journalists' questions during his contacts in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reacted sharply to Samast's release.

''AN EXTRAORDINARILY INCREDIBLY GREAT INJUSTICE''

Reminding that Hrant Dink's death was premeditated and planned, Özgür Özel spoke as follows:

“It is beyond comprehension. He has been imprisoned for 16 years. What kind of 'good conduct' could someone who committed such a brutal murder possibly have? It is such an open murder, right before all of our eyes. It is not just a murder. It was not committed in a fit of madness. It was designed, planned by some, and he was assigned to it. He followed him, he practiced. It is an extraordinarily incredibly great injustice committed against a very important community in Turkey, the Armenian community.” 

''ANYONE WHO SPEAKS OF THE 'J' IN JUSTICE IN THIS STATE IS DEVOID OF CONSCIENCE''

Stating that someone is protecting Ogün Samast, Özel expressed the following:

“The silencing of a community leader due to his thoughts was a highly suspicious situation. This reveals the following: It means someone is protecting and looking after Ogün Samast. After Ogün Samast's murder, there were those who took photos with him in front of a flag. It means those who took photos with him and those who incited him knew how to pull him out of the hole where he should have stayed for life when the day came. If Ogün Samast is being released for 'good conduct,' then from this point on, anyone who speaks of the 'j' in justice in this state is devoid of conscience.”