Hrant Dink is Turkey's Martin Luther King: Taner Akçam

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Hrant Dink was Turkey's Martin Luther King who struggled against discrimination for equality and national unity. «Armenpress» reports that int he article written in Turkish «Taraf» sich definitation to Dink gave famous Turkish historian Taner Akçam. He suggested delcaring every second or third Monday of September of each year Hrant Dink's Day as rhrid Monday of January is considered Luther King’s day in USA.

Now we live in a period of passing from totalitarian regime to more democratic society. We reach the end of war between Turks and Kurds. In past symbols keeping Turkey belonged to only a part of population. Now those symbols do not exist. Hrant is the symbol of this new nation,” writes Taner Akçam.

Speaking about Armenians gathering each year on the day when Dink was killed Turkish historian records that such phenomenon happens for the first time in Turkish history. “What is the secret of this? Have you ever thought about it? His name hurts our heart that is seems his murder touched our humanity,” wrote Akçam mentioning that it was the most planned crime in Turkish Republican history and all state bodies took part in it.

Being Turkish on these lands partially symbolizes massacre of Armenians. Our existence became possible by their destruction. With his absence Dink again puts us in existence. In his absence we are getting more united. Hrant introduces as a person who formed new human society. For this reason I say that he is the symbol of new Turkey. “The year has 365 days. Let the 364 be yours and give the other one to Hrant,” summarized Akçam.