Kurdish musician Nudem Durak, who has been imprisoned for over ten years in Turkey for singing in her native language, is at risk of losing her voice as her health deteriorates. Her mother, Hatice Durak, has called for her release and that of other sick prisoners, highlighting the impact on their families.
Hatice Durak said that her daughter, arrested because of her voice, was now at risk of losing it completely during treatment. She explained that Nudem might need surgery that would damage her vocal cords, and that when the doctor first mentioned this, she had replied that she had been imprisoned because of her voice, and that “there would be nothing left” if she lost it.
Ms Durak also stated that significant omissions had occurred in her daughter’s treatment process and that her hands had been handcuffed while she was being taken to hospital, which had worn her down both physically and psychologically.
“Her condition is getting worse day by day. She has lost a lot of weight. She has bone loss and is not getting enough nutrition. Her hair has turned completely white. The prison conditions are not enough; she is also facing issues at the hospital,” Hatice Durak said.
She added that, as a family, they had faced significant difficulties due to the prison’s remote location. “When we arrive at the prison, it is not easy to arrange a visit. They make it very difficult for us as well,” she emphasised.
Durak stated that her daughter and all other sick prisoners should be released immediately, and also commented on the recent peace process for solving the Kurdish question in Turkey. She said that she views the peace process “positively” and supports it, but added that “Turkish mothers also need to support it.”
“We don’t want anyone to suffer. They say, ‘We have martyrs,’ and so do we. They have graves, but we don’t even have those. Despite all this pain, we are calling for peace. The only thing that will benefit us is peace. This bloodshed can only be stopped by peace,” Durak explained.
Recently, global voices called for the release of Nudem Durak, with prominent artists and activists joining forces under the #FreeNudemDurak campaign to demand her immediate release and the liberation of all political prisoners in Turkey.
Durak was sentenced in April 2015 to 10 years 6 months in prison on charges of “promoting propaganda” for singing in her native Kurdish. Despite no new charges, her sentence was extended to 19 years in July 2016. She is currently incarcerated at Bayburt M-Type Women’s Closed Prison in northeastern Turkey.
