Journalist and Painter Zehra Doğan Sends Pictures That She Draws in Prison

What happened?

Sise Bingöl was arrested in Varto in Muş in 2016. Having been arrested for two and a half months and being released at her first hearing, she was arrested again in April 2017 after her prison sentence was upheld by the Bingöl Erzurum Regional Court of Appeal. She was first sent to the Muş Type E Prison, then to the Type T Women's Closed Prison.

Though Bingöl has to be kept under constant doctor control due to her disorders related to heart, blood pressure, lung, and uterus, the report prepared by the Tarsus State Hospital has indicated that staying in prison does not pose a life-threatening situation for Bingöl.

Who is Zehra Doğan?

Graduated from Southeast Dicle University as a teacher of arts, journalist and artist Doğan beginning since the foundation of JİNHA (Women's New Agency) in 2012 until its forcible closure in 2016 worked as a reporter and editor for the agency.

She reported from the Mardin province and districts since Jul. 24, 2015 when the clashes erupted and curfews were imposed and painted the pictures of the conflict areas.

She was detained on Jul. 23, 2016 in Nusaybin from where she was reporting, and was later arrested under charges of "membership in a terrorist organization" and "terrorist propaganda". Doğan was released on Dec. 9, 2016 by a Mardin court, yet she was sentenced to 33 months in the final hearing on Mar. 22, for sharing her paintings on the social media and reporting on the notes of a 10 year old girl Elif Akboğa.

Following the endorsement of her sentence by the local appeals court Doğan was jailed on Jun. 12, 2017 and placed in Diyarbakır Prison and transferred to the distant Tarsus Maximum Security Prison after winning the IWMF award.

During the time when Doğan was residing in the Diyarbakır Type D Prison, the prison administration did not provide her with necessary equipment. Doğan, then, produced dye from plant roots and menstruation blood. She drew paintings using the dye.

Famous muralist Banksy in protest of her conviction reflected Zehra Doğan's painting with the legend "She is convicted to 2 years 9 months and 22 days for painting this picture" and posted his graphic depicting Doğan behind bars.