'My mother is annoyed when someone asks why a 72-year-old is in prison'

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"For years, on my visits to my mother, I have always told my troubles, sorrow and happiness to my dear Cansu.

"Frankly, I didn't expect Mücella to be arrested. In a sense, I was repeating what I had been told for years to [Cansu]: 'No, they won't arrest you, don't worry. Even if they arrest, it won't last for long.' Then, we did prison shopping for Mücella today. This color is banned, this is not, this would be comfortable, this wouldn't be... But I really hope we're approaching the end. Our reunion is near."

Evin Jiyan Kışanak, the daughter of imprisoned Kurdish politician Gültan Kışanak, shared her photo with Cansu Yapıcı, the daughter of Mücella Yapıcı, with this note.

"As soon as the arrest was made, Jiyan is a very close friend of mine... I called her as soon as the verdict of arrest was given. I benefited from her experience.

"We were like in shopping competition programs on TV. We were like trying to buy necessities in accordance with prison rules before time ran out. We lived this moment together as well. I feel like we will go through this period together."

This is what Cansu Yapıcı felt while shopping for prison.

The two friends who stood together for Gültan Kışanak before now stand together for Mücella Yapıcı, who was arrested together with Yiğit Ekmekçi, Mine Özerden, Çiğdem Mater, Hakan Altınay, Can Atalay and Tayfun Kahraman in the Gezi Park case.

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Evin Jiyan Kışanak, who always stresses the importance of solidarity, wrote for bianet many times about her mother's conditions in prison. Now, Cansu Yapıcı takes the floor. She focuses on both Gültan Kışanak, all political prisoners and her mother.

Cansu Yapıcı writes...

"We didn't prepare a bag, and she was arrested"

In a sense, it is tragicomical for us. We have been living through this for a long time, for eight full years.

The process went on like this: First, the summary of proceedings and the indictment come, then nothing comes out of them. And then, a new indictment and a new case...

Fear, tensions, preparing bags, the uncertainty of what will happen... We consumed it because we lived through so much.

It was like the irony of fate, we had felt whatever could be felt. In this hearing, we didn't have the feelings that we had in the past cases. This time, we didn't prepare a bag. We hadn't prepared a bag when they were acquitted in Silivri, and this became a totem for us. We went to many hearings without preparing anything. We did the same in this case, but she was arrested this time.

In fact, she had started preparing a bag, and we all said, 'Let's not get prepared.'

As you can see, we experienced this process, this thrill, these fears so many times that we have consumed them. I don't know what I'm feeling now, either. I'm just trying to do what I have to do for my mom.

"The dissenting judge gives hope for the future"

We act like we have the law before us. Think about it, we studied the indictment, and the court can tell the lawyers prepared for this for months, 'You have ten minutes, wrap it up.'

Moreover, these defendants are facing aggravated life sentences and heavy sentences. We were faced with a court that was viewing the process this way.

The fact that Murat Bircan of the court board being a prospective parliamentary candidate of the AKP and an objection to this being perceived by the court board as an objection to prolong the trial and rejected shows how a court it is.

The stance of the court member who submitted a dissenting opinion is very important, it gives hope for the future regarding the law.

I am not saying this only for the Gezi Trial, it is a hope for all of us and for the future of the legal system of Turkey.

I always say this: Not only my mother but all of those who were arrested during Gezi, those who had to go abroad have struggled and will struggle for those judges who thought they deserved these sentences to live in a healthier environment, in a brighter Turkey, and for their right to clean soil, air and water. Everything that was done and the struggle were for them and their children. The struggle will continue for whomever it will be.

The visitation day

I will see my mother tomorrow. Yes, I am excited. And she wonders what is happening outside. She is curious about the support. I prepared a short report for the lawyers so that they could convene information to her.

My mother and our friends who are in prison have always been very honorable in their lives, in whatever they did in their professions.

It is very disappointing that the legal system has become like this. We are talking about Jiyan and Gültan. They were living through this, and we have faced this reality. All of this is very real, all the unlawfulness is real. Yes, those who are punished are special people one by one, but this punishment is about all of us.

The thing that annoys my mother the most is somebody asking, 'How old is Mücella Yapıcı? Why is Mücella Yapıcı in prison at the age of 72?' She says, 'I'm 71, I'll be 72 on May 2." (EMK/VK)