Turkey condemns US court’s parole for murderer of envoy

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned the parole of a convict in the U.S who murdered a Turkish diplomat in the 1980s. 

A court in Los Angeles accepted on Dec. 14 a defense attorney’s demand for the conditional release of the Armenian-origin convict, Hampig Sassounian, who killed Turkish Consul General Kemal Arikan in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 1982. 

“We strongly condemn and reject the decision, which can be appealed and will be implemented by the governor of California,” the ministry stated on Dec. 15. 

“The decision, which has been taken in accordance with local political dynamics instead of universally accepted principles of justice, is unfair as well as against the spirit of cooperation in the fight against terrorism,” it added. 
The statement said Turkey continues to pay tribute to Arıkan and other Turkish diplomats and citizens who were victims of terrorism.

The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) terrorist group killed 31 Turkish diplomats across the world between 1973 and 1986. The assassinations took place in the U.S., Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Iran, and the U.K.