Journalist Ayşe Düzkan Referred to Eskişehir Open Prison

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After the request of feminist journalist and writer Ayşe Düzkan for transfer to an open prison has been granted by the judgeship of execution, Düzkan left the Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison in İstanbul last evening (May 23).

As she came out of Bakırköy Prison, Ayşe Düzkan was greeted by Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm as well as several women journalists and feminists. It is expected that Düzkan will be transferred to Eskişehir Open Prison in 30 hours.

Ruling for open prison given two days ago

Sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for having participated in the Editors-in-Chief on Watch campaign in solidarity with the closed Özgür Gündem newspaper, Ayşe Düzkan was arrested and sent to Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison on January 29, 2019.

Serving 45 days in prison as required by the Law no. 5237, Düzkan's prison term fell below a year as of March 16.

Examining the request of Düzkan for transfer to an open prison in line with the legal procedures, the Bakırköy Judgeship of Execution ruled on May 22 that Düzkan should be referred to an open penal institution.

What happened?

On January 18, 2018, Ayşe Düzkan and Ragıp Duran, who were tried for participating in the Editors-in-Chief on Watch campaign in solidarity with the closed Özgür Gündem newspaper, and its columnists Mehmet Ali Çelebi and Hüseyin Bektaş and former Co-Editor-in-Chief Hüseyin Aykol were sentenced to 9 years and 9 months in prison in total.

Having their final hearing at the İstanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court, five journalists were sentenced to prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" as per the Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK).

Examining the verdicts of conviction, the court of appeal upheld the prison sentences on November 29, 2018. Düzkan has been behind bars since January 29, 2019.

(TP/SD)