Inmate Charged Translation Fee After Sending Letter in Kurdish

Click to read the article in Turkish

Fethi Yaşa, an inmate at Amasya Type-E Closed Prison, was charged 180 Turkish liras (~30 US dollars) for the translation of three letters he wrote in Kurdish in February.

He was charged 60 liras for each letter and the bill was sent to him on July 22, the Mezopotamya Agency reported.

Yaşa on July 29 applied to Amasya Prison Judgeship of Execution, which ruled that the inmate should make the payment within one month due to "letters that were written in a language or dialect other than Turkish were translated."

"I have been sending letters in Kurdish for years"

Yaşa appealed the decision at Amasya 2nd Heavy Penal Court, saying the following in his petition of objection:

"About five months ago, I wrote a letter in Kurdish, my mother tongue, and sent it. On July 22, a staff member who is responsible for letters came with a notification to be delivered to me. I was told that the notification is about the translation fee. I have never faced such a situation although I have been writing and sending letters in Kurdish and I have been receiving letters in Kurdish in the prison for years."

Claiming that his citizenship rights are violated, Yaşa said in the petition that he was not informed about his letter would be translated and he would pay for it.

The court rejected the objection, stating that the decision was in accordance with the law and proceedings. Yaşa said that he will bring the case to the Constitutional Court. (HA/VK)