Illiterate Farmer Arrested Over Propaganda Via Books

Farming in İzmir, Halime and Ramazan Akdoğdu have been arrested over the books and magazines they had at their house. Ramazan Akdoğdu’s statement that he can’t read or write hasn’t changed the ruling.

Ayça Söylemez

Illiterate Farmer Arrested Over Propaganda Via Books

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Residing and living off farming in İzmir’s Menderes district, Halime Akdağ and her spouse Ramazan Akdağ have been arrested on charge of “[illegal] organization propaganda” over the books and magazines they had at their house.

In his questioning, Ramazan Akdağ stated that he can’t read or write. Halime Akdağ said the magazines belong to her, however, they were both arrested by Menderes Criminal Judgeship of Peace.

The investigation, which ended up with a house raid, had started with their daughter’s social media posts “being reported”.

In his statement to bianet, their attorney Erdoğan Akdoğdu said “They are making their living by farming. They live in village and have no passport. They are in no position to run away but still they are arrested”.

Raiding the house, gendarmerie forces also cut the electricity of the house, the attorney added.

Books of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Leader Abdullah Öcalan and Özgür Kadın (Free Woman) magazines were found in the house. (AS/TK)

Ayça Söylemez

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Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Felsefe Bölümü mezunu. Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Sosyoloji bölümünde yüksek lisans yaptı. Marmara Üniversitesi İletişim Bilimleri’nde doktora yapıyor. Vatan, Akşam, HaberTürk ve Hürriyet gazetelerinin yazıişleri ve dış haberler bölümünde çalıştı. Güncel Hukuk dergisinde yazıları yayınlandı. BirGün’de Anonim adlı köşeyi yazıyor. 2011’den bu yana bianet’te İnsan Hakları Editörü.