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Sako Arian

Rakel Dink: “We will continue the path forged by Hrant, both in life and death”

An entire history…What follows is my conversation with Rakel Dink, who carries the burden of struggle and misfortune on her shoulders.

 The widow of Hrant Dink, a man whose name and reputation are well-known throughout Turkey, again visited Armenia. This time, it was to attend the opening ceremonies of a school renamed in her late husband’s honor.

This woman, calm, self-confident, but especially with eyes filled with love and goodwill, talked to me about pain, sorrow, anguish, indignation and her vision for the future.

What struck me most was her resolve to continue on the path set out by Hrant which, like a red thread, weaved throughout our entire conversation. But she did so without anger or malice, and especially with a desire to listen to the person opposite her.

This Istanbul-Armenian woman also stressed that she is not an orator. Mrs. Dink affirmed that Hrant Dink’s death had opened a new page, particularly for Armenians living throughout Turkey.

“He achieved more dead than alive,” said Rakel Dink, adding, “The Turks and Kurds found themselves caught up in a certain movement. Every day, Islamized-Turkified Armenians send us their stories.”

She also said that there is a certain positive shift all over Turkey. However, while describing the situation, she also said that what still isn’t clear is the extent these developments have impacted society at large. She explained: “People have begun a search for their past, and a certain spirit of courage has surfaced. They have started not to be fearful of their past. Many are still engaged in an effort to search and find the religion of their forbearers; to recognize and understand it. For example, the fact that special Armenian language classes are being conducted today in Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd), sponsored by the local municipality, must be seen in this context.”

Mrs. Dink didn’t forget to mention that this entire process now taking place in Turkey requires steadfast resolve.

Before Hrant and After Hrant

“After Hrant, people started to talk more freely. This is why many TV talk shows in Turkey started to use the phrase - before Hrant and after Hrant. Many are trying to look to the past,” she said, noting that many are pushing their children to learn Armenian.

All of this, she said, requires struggle, courage and willpower, because anyone in today’s Turkey who wishes to return to his/her roots must make a concerted effort to do so.

Answering my question regarding those from Armenia now living in Turkey, Rakel Dink replied: “I do not believe that those who left Armenia did so gladly.” She also rejected my use of the word ‘abandon’, arguing that they didn’t abandon Armenia, but were forced to leave. “Conditions on the ground made them leave Armenia, and I see the pain of longing in the eyes of many of them now living in Istanbul. They all feel a longing for their native land. They want Armenia to be a better place so that they can quickly return.”

Malice Has No Future

Speaking about developments since the murder of Hrant Dink, and especially about the overall situation in the Armenian world, Mrs. Dink said: “I believe that after the death of Hrant, many in Armenia and the diaspora began to look at the problems faced by the Armenian people through his eyes. And it’s wrong to say that after Hrant’s death a new path of hate took shape in the diaspora or Armenia against Turks. If there were protest actions, they were only natural and merely stemmed from a feeling of anger. In my opinion, malice leads to new mistakes, and the same malice that can be seen as a consequence of Hrant’s murder, must not triumph over our resolve.”

As to the court case dealing with Hrant Dink’s murder, Mrs. Rakel clarified the reasons why the Dink family decided to pull out of the entire process.

“It’s amazing that the court conducted no examination of the people tied to the murder case. Hrant’s murder was the work of a huge network, and many closed their eyes or did nothing to stop it. The Turkish government granted top positions to those involved in the case, and in this way, paid them off. During the past six years, the courts haven’t conducted one serious investigation. There even hasn’t been an examination of the reports prepared by the president or prime minister. Let me say that these reports note that the crime was premeditated and how, on the day of the murder, many officials and police weren’t where they should have been, thus allowing the perpetrator to get close to Hrant and kill him. For all these years, the courts have been trying to tell us that the murder wasn’t planned. At one point, they even tried to convince us that Hrant was still alive and well. Naturally, we had no desire to become a puppet in the hands of the courts. Even witnesses linked to the incident never showed up in court in the initial phase of the trial. What happened on that day isn’t that important as much as the entire process prior to the murder.”

“Hrant…Either Love Turkey or Leave”

Mrs. Dink also spoke about how a group of strangers visited the Agos office in 2004 and placed a black wreath on the street outside where Hrant was to be gunned down three years later. “It shows that they already had decided to kill Hrant. I’ll never forget how they were chanting, ‘Hrant, you are our target’, ‘Either love Turkey or leave’, ‘We’ll come knocking on your door one night’, and other threats. Thus, the most important portion of this entire process is what transpired prior to the murder. And it’s clear that Hrant was being followed. Despite all this, state security agencies were not at all interested in his safety.”

Rakel Dink also told me that photos of all the people who participated in the hate protests were presented to the court, but the authorities did nothing to identify them. “I believe that identifying these names has some connection to the state mentality whose roots run deep, and beneath which the real brain of the state machinery that has committed genocide lies.”

When I asked if she ever brought up the subject of leaving Turkey with Hrant, Rakel Dink said: “Yes, we discussed the possibility. But wherever Hrant would have gone, he’d struggle against injustice.” She added that it would even have been difficult for Hrant to relocate to Armenia, since he never would have tolerated the ongoing injustice. Rakel Dink also said the same about Dink family lawyer Fethiye Çetin, who also believes that the courts did everything to cover up the real reasons for Hrant’s murder and those responsible.

Hrant Dink Foundation: Conferences on Western Armenia

Speaking about the work carried out by the Hrant Dink Foundation, Mrs. Dink pointed out that their mission includes organizing academic conferences. Of particular note is the fact that conferences focusing on various regions of western Armenia take place in the very regions themselves.  As an example, she noted that last year’s conference on the Mardin region took place in the town of Mardin. Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish experts participate in these conferences.

Mrs. Dink also said that during these conferences she is often approached by Turks who express feelings of guilt when talking about past events. “Two young Turks approached me in Mardin and spoke about the guilt they felt. I told them that we had no ulterior motives in talking about all this stuff, but that it would take courage to discuss these tragic events together. As an example, I asked, ‘if my father is guilty of something, how long can I keep concealing it?”

In this context, Rakel Dink thinks it is very important for people to be able to stand before history, and added, “Hrant would say that we must learn to look history in the face.”

She also pointed out that this year’s conference was dedicated to the important theme of Islamized Armenians. She said that these Armenians merit our attention because they accepted Islam due to reasons beyond their control, and that no one has the right to question their Armenian identity, given that deep down, they feel Armenian.

Gomidas Didn’t Go Mad, He Went Silent

“After the events of April 24, Gomidas Vartabed didn’t go mad, he went silent. After those events, all the borders for Gomidas were transgressed. Even his lips were locked, a result of being confused, stunned and bewildered by those tragic events,” said Mrs. Dink, and continued, “When the court issued its conclusion that the murder of Hrant Dink wasn’t planned, we all remained silent. And that’s when my mind fixed on Gomidas Vartabed.”

She continued: “Prior to the Great Crime (Meds Yeghern) Gomidas was well respected throughout Turkey. He was an important religious and cultural figure, and had ties with the elite. He could even meet with such top officials that even Turks couldn’t get an audience with. But Gomidas went silent when faced with the torture and brutality of what transpired. We are also in that situation; of bewilderment, confusion and puzzlement. Getting back to Gomidas, let me say that we couldn’t or didn’t want to understand his silence, and we even regarded him as someone who went mad. All of us knew that the court could issue such a decision, but we wanted to believe, to be tricked into hoping, that something would change. But alas… (long pause). We wanted to hope, wanted to wait. We wanted that this process, which started with these events and Hrant’s murder, serve as an opportunity for the Armenian and Turkish peoples to find a new path. We didn’t permit the malice and anger in our hearts to win out…but to no avail…”

Continuing, Rakel Dink noted: “Hrant would have wanted it that way. It was all a part of his struggle. This is all a struggle of life, and I reflected on it during my ‘Letter to my beloved’ eulogy at Hrant’s funeral. I wanted to see a window of hope out of Hrant’s murder, out of death. Hrant’s death was destined to give us life, and I see a Christian meaning of restoring life anew from his death.”

An Electrified Turkey

Reflecting on the day that Hrant was murdered, Rakel Dink said:

“That day, all of Turkey experienced a jolt that continues to be felt. I am confident that this jolt rippled out to each and every place where there are Armenians. It resembles a stone that is thrown into the sea, creating a continuous series of waves.

People carry that emotion till today. Frequently, I’ll meet people in the street who approach me and say, ‘Mrs. Rakel, forgive us.

I also remember the time I was waiting for my luggage in the Paris airport. Two Turkish women approached and said, ‘Mrs. Rakel, please don’t leave Turkey.

True, all of Turkey doesn’t think like this, but such examples are important nevertheless. I believe that we have a long row to hoe.” 

(English translation: Hrant Gadarigian)

Note - This article is the exclusive property of Hetq Online. Any reproduction, wholly or in part, of either the Armenian or English version without prior permission from Hetq is strictly forbidden under copyright law.

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