Zarakolu granted his "Peace" award to Sevan Nishanian and memory of Hrant Dink

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Turkish human rightsactivist, publisher and author of numerous works on Armenian Genocide Ragip Zarakolu was awarded with Denmark PL Foundation Peace Award on December 10. This award is granted to persons and organizations fighting for democracy through non-violence.

As the Press, information and Public relations Department of the Armenian MFA informed “Armenpress”, PL Foundation PresidentPoul Sögaard had a speech during the official ceremony which was organized in the centreatthe national museum of Denmark. He pointed out that "Peace" award is given toRagip Zarakolu for his many years of struggle in the fields of human rights and freedom of thought as well as for awareness-raising efforts over the Genocide fulfilled 100 years ago in the Ottoman Empire, for what he was prosecuted and imprisoned for several times.

In his response, Zarakolu said that the award is dated to Armenian "Agos" newspaper editor Hrant Dink, killed several years ago and to long-term imprisoned Armenian-Turkish journalist, linguist and architect Sevan Nishanian.

He called for denouncing and condemning the extreme intolerance in Turkey and supporting as much as it possible the release of imprisoned intellectuals.