Turkey: Flash mob performance to mark Hrant Dink anniversary

’We were shot on that day, too.’

*Hurriyet

ISTANBUL - Turkey’s right-minded people have mobilized under the slogan ’We were shot on that day, too.’ More than 300 people, from students to pensioners, are planning to gather on the anniversary of Agos editor-in-chief Hrant Dink’s assassination.

The message, "We were shot on that day, too," has been sent over popular friendship network Facebook and will bring more than 300 people together to raise awareness of the assassination of weekly Agos editor-in-chief Hrant Dink.

Hundreds of people, including students and retired people, will come together in an initiative started by Turkish youth to give a performance on Jan. 18 and 19 at 3 p.m, to commemorate the anniversary of Dink’s murder.

During the performance, the moment when Dink was shot and fell will be reenacted. A camera will record the performance. The performers will fall down one by one. Each of them, after lying down for a few seconds will reenact the moment when the soul leaves the body. The only thing the performers need to do is to get up and walk without looking at the camera after they stand up.

In correspondence with the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review about the Başka Culture House event, performers Eylem Akkaya, İlker Eraslan, İbrahim Baş, Erdi Biltekin and Hüseyin Civan wrote, "The Dink murder is the deepest and freshest wound caused by Ergenekon, the deep state and counter guerrillas. We will also commemorate our intellectual people, who have also been the victims of murder. We call on everyone to join us for Dink and for justice." [...]

’As a society, we were all shot with Dink, too’
Aside from the goal Akkaya spoke of, one of the biggest aims of the performance is to reenact the "social shooting," said Baş, "When Dink was shot, our society was also shot and wounded. We should never forget this pain."

Speaking about Dink’s mission, the performers said, "Dink was our brother, who defended the brotherhood of people and fought for it. He was shot and we were shot too. This pain is the pain of all of us."

The performers, who seek to draw attention to the importance to the normalization of the common language of brotherhood in Turkey, as opposed to the language of nationalism and racism, said, "We should speak of the damage of the language of nationalism and racism to all people from the very young to the very old. We can have safety and peace only when we normalize this thought."

Performances at the Başka Culture House will continue after the commemoration to Dink. Performers will come together a short time later and draw attention to the tragedy in Palestine. Those who want to join flash mob performances can obtain information through www.ydnedir.de.ki