The prison administration in the western Turkish province of Afyon has refused to give a Kurdish writer copies of books he wrote, sent to the prison by his family.
Rizgar Turhan, arrested in 1995, wrote Dilopek Ji Ava Jînê (A Drop of the Water of Life) and Cangoriyên Mişarê (Guards of the Realm) behind bars. The books were published by his family.
Turhan’s family had sent the books when they were published, going as far back as three years ago. The prison administration has not cited a reason why the books were not delivered, mother Şehriban Turhan told Mezopotamya Agency.
“This prison is one where oppression and tyranny reach the skies. They violate their own laws,” the mother said. “There is no case against the books, they are not banned or anything. This is arbitrary.”
Turhan and other prisoners had gone on a hunger strike last year over the mistreatment they faced. On day 30 of the hunger strike, the prison administration agreed to their demands of no solitary confinement and several others, but violations of prisoners’ rights resumed shortly after, according to mother Şehriban.
