Human Rights Foundation Award for Freedom of Thought

The Human Rights Association (İHD) rewarded politicians, journalists, publishers and writers with its annual "Freedom of Thought" award bestowed to deceased human rights defender Ayşe Nur Zarakolu. Zarakolu was a Turkish author, publisher and human rights advocate. The wife of publisher Ragıp Zarakolu passed away of cancer in 2002.

In a ceremony held in the Istanbul Bar Association, the following people were awarded: Ahmet Türk, former co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) who is exposed to a political ban since the party was closed by the Constitutional Court in 2009; Aysel Tuğluk, former DTP deputy who is exposed to a political ban as well; editorial manager of the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper, Mehdi Tanrıkulu, who is currently detained for presenting his defence at court in Kurdish; detained Aram Publishing company owner Bedri Adanır and Günlük newspaper journalist Veysi Sarısözen, who received a 15-months prison sentence in April this year.

Türk ,Tuğluk, Tanrıkulu and Adanır were not present, the two latter persons are currently imprisoned. The ceremony was attended by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Istanbul MP, Sebahat Tuncel, artist Yusuf Çetin, human rights activist Eren Keskin and Cihan Deniz Zarakolu.

BDP Istanbul deputy Sebahat Tuncel accepted the award on behalf of Kurdish politician Türk, who is currently abroad. In a brief speech, Tuncel said that it was possible to overcome the struggle against the forces opposing the İHD; a struggle that was paid with the lives of human rights defenders. One of these people who determinedly carried on with this struggle was Ayşe Nur Zarakolu, Tuncel reminded.

Tucel emphasized Zarakolu's important impact on the Kurdish struggle and on Kurdish women. "It is an honour to receive this award in the name of Ahmet Türk. As you know, Ahmet Türk always advocated for democracy in this country and he was put in jail for his thoughts".

Tuncel indicated that Türk chose to carry on with his democratic struggle despite the whole pressure and that he was exposed to a ban nevertheless.

Veysi Sarısözen referred in his speech to the life of Ayşe Nur Zarakolu and examples of her struggle. Writer Salih Sezgin received the award on behalf of Bedri Adanır. Mehdi Tanrıkulu was represented by his sister Nebahat Eren. BDP Istanbul Co-chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar accepted the award on behalf of Aysel Tuğluk. (BB/VK)