Harry Sassounian: Difference between revisions
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'''Harry M. Sassounian''', also known as Hampig Sassounian, is serving a life sentence for the 1982 assassination of [[Turkey|Turkish]] Consul General Kemal Arikan. He murdered [[Kemal Arikan]] at a street intersection in Los Angeles. |
'''Harry M. Sassounian''', also known as Hampig Sassounian, is serving a life sentence for the 1982 assassination of [[Turkey|Turkish]] Consul General Kemal Arikan. He murdered [[Kemal Arikan]] at a street intersection in Los Angeles. While Sassounian was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1984, some Armenian-American groups named him a hero and pushed for his parole eligibility in 2002. |
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== Assassination == |
== Assassination == |
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Sassounian, hailing from a family of [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Armenians in Lebanon|Armenian emigres]], was identified by witnesses as one of the two gunmen. During the trial, the prosecutors indicated that Sassounian "was motivated to kill Arikan by vengeance for the [[Armenian Genocide|Ottoman Empire’s genocide]] of an estimated million Armenians between 1915 and 1923." |
Sassounian, hailing from a family of [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Armenians in Lebanon|Armenian emigres]], was identified by witnesses as one of the two gunmen. During the trial, the prosecutors indicated that Sassounian "was motivated to kill Arikan by vengeance for the [[Armenian Genocide|Ottoman Empire’s genocide]] of an estimated million Armenians between 1915 and 1923." |
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The jury determined that Sassounian, an [[Armenians|Armenian]] immigrant formerly of [[Pasadena, California]], shot Arikan to death, on January 28, 1982 at 9:40am, and particularly that he singled out the victim because of the victim's nationality.<ref>[http://online.ceb.com/calcases/CA3/182CA3d361.htm PEOPLE v. SASSOUNIAN (1986) 182 CA3d 361]</ref> Sassounian was sentenced to life in prison; because the jury determined that the killing targeted Arikan based on his nationality, Sassounian was given no chance of [[parole]].<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E0D61639F935A25755C0A962948260 New York Times. Assassin Gets Life Term.] June 16, 1984</ref> |
The jury determined that Sassounian, an [[Armenians|Armenian]] immigrant formerly of [[Pasadena, California]], member of [[Armenian Youth Federation]] and [[Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide]], shot Arikan to death, on January 28, 1982 at 9:40am, and particularly that he singled out the victim because of the victim's nationality.<ref>[http://online.ceb.com/calcases/CA3/182CA3d361.htm PEOPLE v. SASSOUNIAN (1986) 182 CA3d 361]</ref> Sassounian was sentenced to life in prison; because the jury determined that the killing targeted Arikan based on his nationality, Sassounian was given no chance of [[parole]].<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E0D61639F935A25755C0A962948260 New York Times. Assassin Gets Life Term.] June 16, 1984</ref> |
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== Eligibility for parole == |
== Eligibility for parole == |
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The California Prison Parole Board rejected Sassounian's demands of release in 2006, 2010 and 2013.<ref>http://www.ataa.org/press/ATAASuccessfullyOpposesParoleforArmenianTerrorist_prl_080610.html http://www.ataa.org/press/CA-Parole-Board-Denies-Parole-to-Armenian-Terrorist-Sassounian.html</ref> |
The California Prison Parole Board rejected Sassounian's demands of release in 2006, 2010 and 2013.<ref>http://www.ataa.org/press/ATAASuccessfullyOpposesParoleforArmenianTerrorist_prl_080610.html http://www.ataa.org/press/CA-Parole-Board-Denies-Parole-to-Armenian-Terrorist-Sassounian.html</ref> |
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Since 1982, AYF and [[Armenian Revolutionary Federation]] support Sassounian as a “martyr”, a “hero” who should be released;<ref>''In the issue of November/December 2000, p. 9, Haytoug, the official publication of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF, young Dashnaks) said: “The likes of Hampig Sassounian […] for us are not terrorists, are not killers, they are martyrs, and heroes, [...].''” See ''Hampig Sassounian: An Archetypal Example of Contemporary Armenian Terrorism'' by Maxime Gauin in http://www.turkishweekly.net/columnist/3508/hampig-sassounian-an-archetypal-example-of-contemporary-armenian-terrorism.html</ref> his justice costs are paid by ARF using funds raised for this purpose.<ref>''Asbarez'', October 15, 1983; ''The Armenian Weekly'', January 14, 1984, pp. 1-6 ; ''Haïastan'' ([[Paris]]), special issue about Sassounian affair, February 1984; ''Haytoug'', November-December 2000, p. 9; [http://asbarez.com/45716/sassounian-thanks-community-for-continued-support/ “Sassounian Thanks Community for Continued Support”], ''Asbarez'', November 2nd, 2001; [http://asbarez.com/46446/more-than-70-000-raised-for-hampig-sassounian-defense-effort/ “More Than $70 000 Raised for Hampig Sassounian Defense Effort”], ''Asbarez'', February 25, 2002; “Meeting the Man Behind the Idea”, ''Haytoug'', Spring 2008, pp. 7-8; [http://www.fra-france.com/index.php?page=article&id=56 Flyer] of ARF, French branch, July 2008.</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 01:25, 18 February 2015
Harry M. Sassounian, also known as Hampig Sassounian, is serving a life sentence for the 1982 assassination of Turkish Consul General Kemal Arikan. He murdered Kemal Arikan at a street intersection in Los Angeles. While Sassounian was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1984, some Armenian-American groups named him a hero and pushed for his parole eligibility in 2002.
Assassination
Arikan was gunned down in his car by two gunmen while waiting at a red light on the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Comstock Street in the Westwood area of Los Angeles. President Ronald Reagan condemned the murder as "an apparent act of terrorism".[1]
Sassounian, hailing from a family of Lebanese Armenian emigres, was identified by witnesses as one of the two gunmen. During the trial, the prosecutors indicated that Sassounian "was motivated to kill Arikan by vengeance for the Ottoman Empire’s genocide of an estimated million Armenians between 1915 and 1923."
The jury determined that Sassounian, an Armenian immigrant formerly of Pasadena, California, member of Armenian Youth Federation and Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide, shot Arikan to death, on January 28, 1982 at 9:40am, and particularly that he singled out the victim because of the victim's nationality.[2] Sassounian was sentenced to life in prison; because the jury determined that the killing targeted Arikan based on his nationality, Sassounian was given no chance of parole.[3]
Eligibility for parole
In 2002, prosecutors agreed to drop the so-called "national origin" special circumstance of the case, making Sassounian eligible for parole, in exchange for his admitting his guilt and formally apologizing.[4] “I participated in the murder of Kemal Arikan,” Sassounian read aloud from a letter detailing the plea bargain. “I renounce the use of terrorist tactics to achieve political goals. I regret the suffering of the Arikan family.”[5]
The California Prison Parole Board rejected Sassounian's demands of release in 2006, 2010 and 2013.[6]
Since 1982, AYF and Armenian Revolutionary Federation support Sassounian as a “martyr”, a “hero” who should be released;[7] his justice costs are paid by ARF using funds raised for this purpose.[8]
See also
Notes
- ^ Ronald Reagan. Statement on the Assassination of Turkish Consul General Kemal Arikan, January 28th, 1982
- ^ PEOPLE v. SASSOUNIAN (1986) 182 CA3d 361
- ^ New York Times. Assassin Gets Life Term. June 16, 1984
- ^ Lorelei Laird. "Sassounian Gets Life With Parole for Assassination in Sentencing Deal", Metropolitan News-Enterprise, p. 1, Monday, October 21, 2002
- ^ Lorelei Laird. "Sassounian Gets Life With Parole for Assassination in Sentencing Deal", Metropolitan News-Enterprise, p. 1, Monday, October 21, 2002
- ^ http://www.ataa.org/press/ATAASuccessfullyOpposesParoleforArmenianTerrorist_prl_080610.html http://www.ataa.org/press/CA-Parole-Board-Denies-Parole-to-Armenian-Terrorist-Sassounian.html
- ^ In the issue of November/December 2000, p. 9, Haytoug, the official publication of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF, young Dashnaks) said: “The likes of Hampig Sassounian […] for us are not terrorists, are not killers, they are martyrs, and heroes, [...].” See Hampig Sassounian: An Archetypal Example of Contemporary Armenian Terrorism by Maxime Gauin in http://www.turkishweekly.net/columnist/3508/hampig-sassounian-an-archetypal-example-of-contemporary-armenian-terrorism.html
- ^ Asbarez, October 15, 1983; The Armenian Weekly, January 14, 1984, pp. 1-6 ; Haïastan (Paris), special issue about Sassounian affair, February 1984; Haytoug, November-December 2000, p. 9; “Sassounian Thanks Community for Continued Support”, Asbarez, November 2nd, 2001; “More Than $70 000 Raised for Hampig Sassounian Defense Effort”, Asbarez, February 25, 2002; “Meeting the Man Behind the Idea”, Haytoug, Spring 2008, pp. 7-8; Flyer of ARF, French branch, July 2008.