Journalist Ferhat Parlak Released

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Arrested for 15 months due to the statements of an anonymous witness, Ferhat Parlak, the Grant Holder and reporter of the local daily Silvan Mücadele (Silvan Struggle), has been released in his first hearing.

Saying his final words in his defense, Parlak said, "I have two little daughters, I miss having breakfast with them very much."

Ferhat Parlak was taken into custody in a house raid conducted by the police in Silvan in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır on April 11, 2018. Detained for three days, Parlak was referred to the Prosecutor's Office, which referred him to the penal judgeship of peace to be arrested.

The court ruled for the arrest of Parlak on charge of "membership of an illegal organization" based on the statement of an anonymous witness.

Ferhat Parlak was sent to the Diyarbakır Type D Closed Prison. He said that he was arrested due to his journalistic activities and added, "Doing journalism in the region is being turned into a crime. I am not accepting this crime. My morale is high despite everything."

450 days have passed since Parlak uttered these words. Ferhat Parlak stood before the judge at the Diyarbakır 11th Heavy Penal Court on July 8.

Taking his seat between the gendarmerie officers, Parlak rejected the claims by presenting documents. At that moment, he saw his family entering the court hall. They were late because they were coming from Silvan. Interrupting his defense, he waived his hand towards his mother Aysun, wife Sima and two little daughters Ranya and Zerya. Completing his defense, he said, "I miss having breakfast with my two little daughters very much."

Witness Cesur changed his previous statement

An anonymous witness previously stated that he would like to benefit from the repentance law and said that Parlak was in touch with the senior executives of the organization. In the first hearing yesterday, Bilal Cesur was, this time, heard as an open witness via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). In contrast with his previous statement, Cesur indicated that he did not know Parlak, saw him only while taking photographs and did not know whether he had any connections with the organization or not.

Announcing its verdict after the two-minute break, the court board ruled that Ferhat Parlak shall be released on probation and adjourned the hearing to November 6, 2019. The family of Parlak, who was outside the court hall, received the news of his release in tears and by hugging each other.

His wife Sima Parlak expressed her happiness at the verdict. Having graduated from the Dicle University's Medical Documentation Department and being unemployed because she waits for appointment, Sima Parlak said, "Ferhat has been arrested for 15 months with slanders and false pretences. I tried to stand on my feet alone. I had to move in with my family."

His mother Aysun Parlak said, "I wish the same to the others in prison. May the God save everyone from that narrow place."

'The cruel only inflict cruelty'

Among the ones who watched the hearing was also 83-year-old İsmet Hillez, who used to came to Diyarbakır Newroz and attend the folk dances with his walking stick in his hand until four years ago.

Hillez said that he could not come to Newroz because of his old age, but Ferhat Parlak had a special place beside him.

"Ferhat is like gold. Whenever I got bored, I would go to the office of his newspaper and sit there", Hillaz stated further.

Denouncing the 15-month arrest of Parlak, Hillez said, "The cruel only inflict cruelty. They do not look who is right and who is wrong." (EKN/SD)