A-Infos (en) Not unlimited support!!! Re: anarchist prisoners in Turkey

[Worker <a-infos-en@ainfos.ca>]

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Dear Friends,
Here is a letter we have just received from an anarchist in Turkey. This is 
a letter about the unbearable conditions anarchists prisoners face in 
Turkish prisons. We have decided not to reveal the name of the 
correspondent.

"I have been an anarchist prisoner for five years. They (DGM, Malatya) -DGM 
is a State security court- gave me 15 years because I did not deny my 
anarchist idendity and ideas. I had to deal with all sorts of problems. In 
Malatya prison I was put in the block that dominated by 
Marxist-Leninistprisoners. However, I was not accepted by them. I was told 
to stay only as an ordinary, non-political human being not an anarchist. 
Only PKK accepted me, with one condition: I was not to talk to anyone about 
anarchism. Although they gave me way a little after I insisted not to, they 
did not recognise my anarchist adentity. They were moderate towards me 
because in the past I had defended myself in DGM as a Kurdish anarchist. If 
thiswas not not so, I am sure they would have never let me in their block. I 
had no choice but to demand my transfer to Burdur prison. There were 4 other 
anarchist prisoners in Burdur prison. Ther were people who converted 
anarchism inside the prison walls. Like many other anarchists in prisons, 
they came from leftist background. At that time I was tortured when I was 
arrested. Difficulty to breathe, liver aches, ear and eye problems. Most 
importantly, I had serious trauma. My cell had no air conditioning and my 
health began deteriorate even more. Iwas having problems with breathing and 
sometimes I fainted. I suggested to my anarchist comrades that we should 
demand to be transferred to a block with air conditioning. They agreed. But 
the prison authorities rejected us ourright. We were told to contact the 
representatives of the Prisoners' Committee which was controlled by 
Marxist-Leninist organisations. I explain to them about this matter. In the 
meantime, I could not see a doctor about my deteriorating health. I also 
talked to the representatives of MLKP (Marxist-Leninist Communist Party) and 
PKK and asked them for help. They got upset. They refused to help us because 
we were anarchists, not "revolutionaries". They did not see us as 
revolutionaries. They told us not to cause any more problems. Me and my 
comrades discussed the matter among ourselves. We decided to ask for a 
transfer to another prison where they were no Marxists. Some friend told me 
to stay in one of the political blocks until my health got better. First I 
refused, but then I got worried because I was fainting more frequently. I 
decide to tell this to the representatives of Prisoners Committee. MLKP 
refused to let me stay in their block  straight away. PKK, on the other 
hand, told me to stay with one condition: I had to be an "ordinary" citizen. 
I was very much hurt and refused. In the meantime, some of my visitors from 
outside were sent back by the Prisoners' Committee. The reason was that we 
were not revolutionaries (...) Wewere transferred to different places. I was 
sent to Konya/Ermenek prison. For about two years I lived there . For a 
while I stayed with Trotkyists, because they too were rejected and treated 
like us by Prisoners' Committee. Finally I realised how difficult it was to 
live with Marxists. My own political leanings were the reason for this. My 
health was in danger in solitary confinement. I was sent to Ankara Numune 
Hospital and had an operation. However, they couldn't do anything about my 
severe headaches and ear problems."
"(...) As you can see the penalty of being an anarchist is very severe. You 
are confronted from everywhere. I think this is something which anarchits 
have highly been aware of. I hope this letter would be helpful in informing 
you about the conditions which an anarchist faces in Turkish prisons."


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