Aziz Oruç
Aziz Oruç is one of 16 journalists remanded in custody on 8 June following dawn raids in Diyarbakir, and accused of supporting terrorism on the basis of materials collected in connection with their profession. This article, first published in Bianet, was penned from his prison cell in Turkish and has been translated and republished for Medya News.
The writer is an editor with the Mezopotamya News agency, with many years experience in the field. He has been arrested and detained before for articles he has written and social media posts.
The economic crisis in Turkey is deepening, the people’s purchasing power is falling and unemployment is increasing day by day. Poverty is rampant, uncertainty is snowballing, there are elections on the horizon and the political parties are taking to the stage. But it is important to note that we can determine our own fate and not leave it all to the politicos. To do this we need to put more effort in, to struggle more. We need to believe in the power of our own words. Otherwise, we should know that it will only get worse. So we must consolidate ourselves.
Politicians heading for the elections see the basic problem in the country as an “economic crisis” and act accordingly, but we must not forget that the basic problems of the country are actually the lack of democratisation, the restriction of freedoms, and human rights issues. It is not possible for the feel-good factor to improve or for an end to the economic crisis in a climate dominated by oppression and the restriction of freedoms.
One of the basic foundations of democracy is the freedom of the press. An environment in which journalists may write and report freely without being arrested must be created and the freedom of expression and thought must be brought under constitutional guarantee for this to happen in this country. But unfortunately and with sadness, I have to say that it is very difficult to talk about the freedom of the press in Turkey. It has been discussed and argued about for years on end, but journalists are continuing to be imprisoned, threatened and censored. This is a summary of the position in which we find ourselves.
The claim that “there are no journalists in prison in Turkey” has been at odds with the facts for years. If only the claim were true and none of our colleagues were in prison. If only I were not myself writing these lines from prison. But sixteen journalists, of which I am one, were remanded in custody on 16 June. We have been unjustly imprisoned for two months. There is a secrecy order on the court proceedings.
And as our prosecutor was promoted after getting us remanded in prison, there is not even a prosecutor to draw up our indictment.
The detention of 16 journalists will not solve anything other than to demonstrate the true state of the freedom of the press in this country.
The tradition of the freedom of the press is a years-long tradition, arrived at with a heavy price. They will not be able to end this tradition nor will they be able to suppress the facts through our arrest. We do not believe that our remaining colleagues will lay down their pens.
Wherever we are, we will never compromise, and we will not back down.
As I write these lines looking at my little bit of wire-meshed, iron-barred sky through the window frame, a piece of news came on the TV downstairs. News such as this excites us in prison, with limited TV channels. It said, “The Journalists Society of Turkey has awarded its annual prize to the 16 journalists remanded in Diyarbakır prison”. I ran down to watch the report. I was happy and proud. But I want to make it clear that we are journalists and we don’t have to prove ourselves to anyone. We will defend our profession with the same determination and conviction.
With the arrest of 16 journalists we see once again the importance of solidarity. Determined solidarity against those who try to show journalism as a crime is invaluable. We need to build up and strengthen the solidarity network in and out of the prisons. We can succeed in this and overcome the difficulties all together.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all those in solidarity with us. We need to remain strong in our solidarity together.
Despite all we have been through we are well, strong, and most importantly, we are in the right. We await the day when this injustice will come to an end and we will write again. We are journalists, we are in the right, we will gain our freedom and we will write again.
With the wish to meet you in days of freedom.
