Member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Lawyer Bedirhan Sarsılmaz was detained in Istanbul on 25 October as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and arrested on 30 October. He is being held in Marmara (Silivri) Type L Closed Prison No 1.

 

Sarsılmaz made evaluations from prison through his lawyers.

 

'THE DECISION IS POLITICAL'

 

Sarsılmaz stated that his arrest is not independent from the current political atmosphere and said: "In a process where trustees are appointed to the will of the people, mayors are arrested, and in fact the whole society is wanted to be brought into line by the political power, the decision to arrest me is not a legal but a political decision. As is known to the public, I was detained during the hearing while I was carrying out my professional activity and then I was arrested. Both the way I was detained and the decision to arrest me can be considered as an intimidation intended to be given to all lawyers who try to practice law with a libertarian understanding of law."

 

'SEA OF RIGHTS VIOLATIONS'

 

Referring to the rights violations in prisons, Sarsılmaz stated that prisons in the country have turned into "a sea of rights violations". Pointing to the violation of rights he experienced, Sarsılmaz said: "On the 4th day of my arrest in Marmara Type L Closed Prison No 5, where I was brought after my arrest, a disciplinary investigation was initiated against me on the grounds that I greeted and hugged a prisoner, who is my client, while passing through the corridor during my meeting with my lawyers in the lawyer's visit cabin. We are faced with a prison reality where even human values such as greetings and hugs, which we have lived for thousands of years, are subject to investigation. However, instead of being afraid of these human values, I would like to state that we will continue to keep these values alive with the awareness that it is necessary to create not only individual but also social conditions for greetings and hugs."

 

DETERMINATION TO STRUGGLE

 

"I can state that what attracted my attention the most during my detention was the fact that dozens of people who were unjustly deprived of their freedom on grounds such as singing a Kurdish song, dancing a halay to a Kurdish song, sending money to their relatives in prison, or carrying out journalistic activities, did not lose their determination to carry out their struggle in the hope that a free and equal life will be built and social peace will prevail despite these conditions," Sarsılmaz said.

 

'MY IDENTITY WANTED TO BE ILLEGALISED'

 

Sarsılmaz stated that his identity as a lawyer was wanted to be illegalised and said: "As a result, with this arrest, both my practice as a lawyer and my Kurdish identity were targeted by wanting to be illegalised. I am only one of dozens of people who have experienced this unlawfulness. However, I would like to state that this arrest will be a reason for me to increase the struggle. On this basis, by keeping alive the legacy of struggle I received from our predecessors; I will continue our struggle for freedom, justice and law under all conditions and in every field."

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu