ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)–British law expert Sir Geoffrey Bindman will speak at the second Hrant Dink Human Rights and Freedom of Expression Conference hosted by Bosphorus University Saturday, reported Marmara, an Istanbul based Armenian daily.
Bindman, who is chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, will speak on “Freedom of Expression: A Universal Right”.
Born in 1933, Bindman has been a lawyer in London since 1960. He was legal adviser to the Race Relations Board (1966-73) then spent ten years as legal adviser to the Commission for Racial Equality until 1983.
Bindman is the author of many articles in the legal profession’s journals and in the national press. He has broadcast frequently on his specialist topics. He has represented the ICJ, IBA, Amnesty International and other bodies in human rights missions overseas.
He has received several human rights awards and is a visiting lecturer at University College at London and London South Bank University.
The conference is held in memory of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, editor of the Agos newspaper. Dink was murdered in front of his office in Istanbul on 19 January 2007.
Marmara also reported that that the Erciesh University in Kesaria will play host to another conference devoted to Armenian issues, with scholars and political officials presenting lectures on a variety of topics.
University Prof. Metin Hulagu announced that historian and columnist Levon Panos Dabaghian will make a presentation on the current manifestation of the Armenian issue and attorney Gegham Garabedian will present a lecture on Armenian-Turkish friendship throughout history.
Dr. Nursen Mazedj will present a lecture on the legal basis of the Armenian Genocide; Ankara University professor Anel Chechen will discuss the “Great Armenia Project”; Ataturk University professor Erol Kurkujoglu will discuss the role of Armenian-Turkish relation in the Caucasus stability while Ambassador Omer Lutem will discuss the current state of Turkish Armenian relations.
Hulagu added that the university has consistently organized conferences on the Armenian issue recalling a 2006 conference on “Turkish-Armenia unity in the Ottoman era” and last year’s conference on the rise of Armenian nationalism and the policies of great powers.
