Rakel Dink

Rakel Dink (born 1959) is a Turkish Armenian human rights activist, She is the widow of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist and human rights activist of Armenian origin who was assassinated on 19 January 2007. Following Hrant Dink's assassination, she became involved in human rights activities and has served as the head of Hrant Dink Foundation since 2007.

Life She was born in 1959 in Yolağzı, Silopi.

The Armenian Varto tribe received an order for exile in 1915, but when they were attacked during the voyage, they took refuge in Mount Judi with the help of an Arab Muslim tribe called Tayanlar and lived there for 25 years. After living a migrant life in bristle tents for a while, the tribe settled in the village of Varto, today called Yolağzı. Members of the tribe moved to Istanbul in 1978 and later to Belgium and France in the 1980s, and Dink's father Siyament died in Brussels in 2004. Rakel Dink is the last member of the tribe in Turkey. In 1968, she went to Istanbul with her two brothers, and was placed in the Armenian Orphanage in Tuzla, called Kamp Armen. In summers, she stayed in Tuzla and in winters she was moved to Gedikpaşa Orphanage. Rakel Dink, who did not speak any languages other than Kurdish at the time, learned Turkish and Armenian in Istanbul. She graduated from Gedikpaşa İncirdibi Armenian Elementary School. Since she was officially registered as a Turkish citizen, it was not possible for her to attend the Armenian school anymore.

Her husband, Hrant Dink, was assassinated on 19 January 2007 as he returned to the offices of Agos. A funeral was organized for Hrant Dink on 23 January 2007, which was attended by a large number of people. Rakel Dink also delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Rakel Dink is the president of the Hrant Dink Foundation, which was established in 2007 in order to develop a culture of dialogue, peace and empathy in order to keep Hrant Dink's dreams, language and heart alive for a more fair and free world.