Freedom Watch Begins for Aslı Erdoğan

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Freedom watch has begun for novelist, Özgür Gündem daily Publishing Consultant Board member and columnist Aslı Erdoğan in front of the prison where she is being kept.

Women for Peace Initiative, Peace Bloc, Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), Academics for Peace and writers, Peoples’ Democratic Congress Women Assembly have supported the watch.

The statement delivered emphasized that Aslı Erdoğan must be released right away. Aslı Erdoğan in her message she sent from the prison said, “It actually hasn’t surprised me that my struggle against violence for over 20 years is met with this violence imposed”.

The watch will continue between 4-6 p.m.

Message from Aslı Erdoğan: Maintaining peace is harder than fighting

Erdoğan’s message read out in the watch is as follows:

“I’ve always stood by the victims in my entire life and I’ve always known who the victim is by my heart. It actually hasn’t surprised me that my struggle against violence for over 20 years is met with this violence imposed. Maintaining peace is harder than fighting and it is the peace defenders who are first to be blamed at times when war intensifies.

“I thank everybody, everybody who act in solidarity with me. It is the first time that I don’t feel alone. With love”.

Poet Murathan Mungan, Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) President Uğur Güç, Kıvanç Ersoy from the Academics for Peace, Reporters Without Borders Turkey Representative Erol Önderoğlu, novelists Sema Kaygusuz, Vivet Kanetti, short story writer Seray Şahiner, Peace Bloc Co-Spokesperson Bahadır Altan, Feride Eralp from Women for Peace Initiative delivered statements in the watch.

What had happened?

İstanbul 8th Court of Peace shut down Özgür Gündem newspaper. The decision said that the newspaper will be “temporarily shut down” but did not mention how long it would remain closed.

Following the decision made by İstanbul 8th Criminal Court of Peace to shut down Özgür Gündem daily, police raided the newspaper’s building. 22 were taken into custody.

Police have also launched a raid into the apartment of Filiz Koçali and Eren Keskin as well as Sinan Zarakolu, the son of publisher, columnist and journalist Ragıp Zarakolu, who was registered at this address.

Aslı Erdoğan was arrested on August 19. (BK/TK)