Freedom Demands in Front of Prison for Imprisoned Academics

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Freedom watches in front of the prisons kept for academics arrested for signing the declaration entitled "We will not be a party to this crime" continue.

Groups like Everyone for Peace, 78s Initiative, Social Democracy Foundation (SODEV), Community Centers supported the watch in front of the prison in which Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı and Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan have been kept.

Artists Zülfü Livaneli, Suavi, journalists Ertuğrul Mavioğlu, Celal Başlangıç, and many others including Republican People's Party (CHP) representatives reiterated their demand for release of the academics.

Celal Başlangıç: We will overcome the dark days

Celal Başlangıç speaking in the speech made on behalf of 78s Initiative said, "AKP (the Justice and Development Party) said war and started to plot against anyone to imprison people who demand peace", and added; "we will overcome the dark days".

Ayşegül Tözeren: We stand behind words of the academics

People from Everyone for Peace took stage after the demonstration of Tiyatro tek Ağaç (Theater is Single Tree). Writer Ayşegül Tözeren said Everyone for Peace persists to stand behind the words of Academics for Peace.

"Everyone for Peace says peace demand is legitimate. War is crime, peace is legitimate".

Gökhan Biçici: The watches are spreading

Journalist Gökhan Biçici explained that struggle for peace has intertwined with other struggles:

"Academics have set off to advocate peace but suddenly they've found themselves in defending freedom of expression which is the prerequisite to exist as an academic in this country. It has become clear that in this period we will look out for our demands by keeping watch".

Zülfü Livaneli: PM also says there is no ground for arrest

Artist Zülfü Livaneli said, "There is no ground for arrest. Head of the government says the same. According to our constitution, head of the executive power is the prime minister, he says there is no need for arrest. Their addresses, workplaces are known, there is no possibility of spoilation of evidence, they don't deny signing the declaration. Our goal is to have them be released as soon as possible, or at least to have them tried without arrest".

Ercan Karakaş: Demanding peace is not a crime

SODEV Honorary President Ercan Karakaş said peace is the biggest need for Turkey, the region, and the world:

"Our academic fellows' demanding peace and voicing it in a peaceful way is not and cannot be a crime in democracies. If people will not be able to voice their peaceful opinions, then it means there is no life in this country. We are not hopeless, hope will come with peace. We want illegal, anti-democratic arrests to be put an end".

Ertuğrul Mavioğlu: Prisons are school

Ertuğrul Mavioğlu said, "It is said prisons are school, here they teach us how to fight against state, dirty fascism".

Ayşe Semiha Baban: Ending violence is all of ours duty

Wife of Yaşar Kemal and academic Ayşe Semiha Baban began her speech by quoting Yaşar Kemal "Either democracy or nothing".

"Demanding peace is as we all reiterate is not a crime, ending violence is a duty, all of ours duty".

Suavi stated that "Watch of fear will rise together with watch of peace".

Selçuk Erez: We have to go after the academics

İstanbul Medical Chamber (İTO) President, Selçuk Erez said, "Is it unreasonable to say 'don't let people die, we will die sooner or later in any case, let us come to the negotiation table as soon as possible to end the killings'? No, it is the reason itself. We have to feel gratitude to these academics for showing such a path. We have to go after them.

Müslim Kaya: We hope it will dawn

Müslüm Kaya, father of one of the imprisoned academics Muzaffer Kaya, said "All four of them are our children. They are our academics. It is twilight for them now, we hope it will dawn". (BK/TK)