Harry Sassounian
Encyclopedia
Harry M. Sassounian is currently serving a life sentence for the 1982 assassination of Turkish
Consul General Kemal Arikan.
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. 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".
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." 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
.
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. “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.”
The California Prison Parole Board rejected Sassounian's demands of release in 2006 and 2010.
Since 1982, AYF and Armenian Revolutionary Federation
support Sassounian as a “martyr”, a “hero” who should be released; his justice costs are paid by ARF, after specifical collects.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Consul General Kemal Arikan.
The jury determined that Sassounian, an Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
immigrant formerly of Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, member of Armenian Youth Federation and Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide
Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide
Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide was a secret military organization that operated in various western nations from 1975 to 1987...
, 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. 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
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
condemned the murder as "an apparent act of terrorism".
Sassounian, hailing from a family of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
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
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
of an estimated million Armenians between 1915 and 1923." 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
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
.
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. “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.”
The California Prison Parole Board rejected Sassounian's demands of release in 2006 and 2010.
Since 1982, AYF and Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
support Sassounian as a “martyr”, a “hero” who should be released; his justice costs are paid by ARF, after specifical collects.