Ayşenur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought and Expression Awards Granted for 17th Time

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The 17th Ayşenur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought and Expression Awards were granted in a "Respect to Human Rights and Return to Law"-themed ceremony organized by the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch at Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center in Şişli yesterday (May 9).

This year's awards have been granted to Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Chair and forensic science expert Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, journalist and writer Ayşe Düzkan and rights defender and businessperson Osman Kavala.

Since Düzkan and Kavala are in prison, the prize-awarding ceremony could only be attended by Şebnem Korur-Fincancı.

Two laureates behind bars

In its statement, the award committee has explained why this award has been granted to Korur-Fincancı, Düzkan and Kavala as follows:

Şebnem Korur-Fincancı: She did valuable research in the fields of Forensic Medicine and documentation of torture and has continued these works under pressure. She was charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and sentenced to 2 years, 6 months in prison for having signed the declaration "We will not be a party to this crime" prepared by Academics for Peace. She was arrested and released in Özgür Gündem Editors-in-Chief-on-Watch trial, which is still continuing today.

Ayşe Düzkan: She has been sentenced to 18 months in prison in Özgür Gündem Editors-in-Chief on Watch trial and she has been behind bars in Bakırköy Prison since January 29, 2019.

Osman Kavala: There is no concrete legal evidence, but he is charged with leading Gezi Incidents and taking part in July 15. He is still in Silivri Prison.

Making a speech in the award-giving ceremony, Şebnem Korur-Fincancı stated that they would continue struggling for the rule of law and added:

"It is a great honor for me. But, we are also very outraged. Our rights are seized by copy-paste bills of indictment."

The award of Ayşe Düzkan was given to journalist Nevin Cedav from Yeni Yaşam newspaper and JIN NEWS reporter Safiye Alağaş.

Sending a message to the ceremony, Kavala also stated that it was an honor for him to receive this award.

About Ayşenur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought and Expression Award

After human rights defender and publisher Ayşenur Zarakolu lost her life in 2002, the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch has been granting Ayşenur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought and Expression Award since 2003 to people and organizations who face oppression in terms of human rights, democracy and peace in general, in freedom of thought and expression in particular and do not keep silent and continue to give people hope despite these oppressions.

Previous laureates of the award were as follows:

Ayşe Çelik (in the name of everyone who says, "Don't let children die, don't let mothers cry"), Selahattin Demirtaş (in the name of all arrested MPs and elected), Onur Hamzaoğlu (in the name of physicians arrested and oppressed for demanding peace), Murat Sabuncu (in the name of oppressed journalists), Sezin Uçar (in the name of arrested lawyers), Boğaziçi University students (in the name of all arrested students), Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper (in the name of closed newspaper and media organizations), Hasan Ceylan (in the name of all arrested and oppressed human rights defenders)

(AS/SD)

* Photographs: TİHV