A Story of Statement of Defense in Kurdish at 22nd Heavy Penal Court

Click to read the article in Turkish

Levent Döndü and Zeki Kayar were among the defendants in the trial of now-closed Özgür Gündem’s Editors-in-Chief on Watch campaign on October 20.

Levent Döndü didn’t attend the hearing held at İstanbul Courthouse 22nd Heavy Penal Court in Çağlayan yesterday.

Kayar enounced that he wanted to make his statement of defense in Kurdish via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

He was asked whether he had an interpreter

Saying that he wanted to make his statement of defense in Kurdish, Kayar was asked by Chief Judge Fikret Demir why he didn’t convey this demand earlier. Then Kayar was told to bring if he has any interpreter.

In response, Kayar said he didn’t consider bringing an interpreter and he might get help from a friend in prison. Chief Judge Demir responded that he couldn’t wait that long and he would summon an interpreter.

Upon Kayar being told that he had to pay for the interpreter, Kayar said that he has been in prison for 25 years and he has no money to afford it.

Chief Judge Demir asked Kayar “You have been expressing yourself very well in Turkish. Why are you making your statement of defense in Kurdish? The state has granted this right but for those who cannot express themselves [in Turkish]”.

“I want Kurdish to be an autonomous language and language of instruction. I have already been tried for writing on right to education in Kurdish”, Kayar answered.

Kayar started his statement of defense when his interpreter came.

“I am not saying those things to be a separatist. I have been in prison for 25 years. I don’t need propaganda. Like all languages, Kurdish must be an autonomous language as well and the state must support it. Those who speak in Kurdish has the same rights as any citizen of Turkey. Languages must be equal as well”.

Kayar has been tried for writing on Kurdish

Zeki Kayar has been sending articles for 25 years to column spared by Özgür Gündem for prisoners. He had an article entitled “Kurdish of the new comers” where he evaluates young people who enter prison speaking Kurdish.

In another article of his published on Yeni Özgür Politika dated October 25, 2016, Kayar said that he learned that he was prosecuted via a notification and added:

“Even if you are Kurdish, you will not say a word about Kurdish. There is no such language as Kurdish, you won’t mention it!”. I haven’t seen the indictment yet but I cannot accept it”. (TP/HK/TK)