The Turkish journalist Bar?? Terko?lu,
in jail since Februari 2011, was adopted by the Belgian Union of Journalists (AGJPB). Today Bar?? Terko?lu sent a letter to AGJPB from Silivri prison and thanked them for their support :
Dear Friends,
You gave me the courage and strength to end my
words in my court defense with the following:
If you ask “what is
law?”, we probably have to say that it is mostly about the “applications”.
No matter what the
written law is, if people thinking and writing in a certain way are continously
investigated and imprisoned then it means that thinking and writing that way is
forbidden.
Unfortunately this
is what happened to us as well.
It is critical
journalism that is forbidden in these courts, and it is critical journalism
that is being destroyed with such cases.
I will say this
again and again.
I, and I
confidently can say that “we”, wrote what we believed to be right.
As the news
director, regardless of whether I agree or disagree with the ideas or the writings of our authors, I take full
responsibility for what our authors have written.
In my defense I
explained in detail and defended every one of the articles, news and analysis.
In the end my writings reflect my thoughts.
I also want you to
acknowledge this:
If you release me
today I will sit on the stairs of this very courthouse and write the same news
and articles. Even if I stay in prison for 100 years, the day I get released I
will insist on the same thoughts. If I lose my right arm I will write my
thoughts with my left arm. I do not need an organization, instructions or
orders to do these. As you can see for almost a year now I am separated from
all other suspects and I continue to write the same thoughts which are
considered as crime.
One is not defined
by his genes but by his actions.
And I am who stems
from the tips of my fingers.
I can not become
someone else with the fear of prison, police-threat, or prosecutors’
punishment. I can not exchange the freedom of my body with the slavery of my
soul.
If what is expected
by these hearings is this, and this what I think is expected, I am turning the
exchange offer down.
Now not only for
myself but for all suspects and for my country, if it is in your hands, I
demand justice.”
Our words were not
enough to earn our freedom.
Our next hearing is
on the 12th of March.
I believe that, no
matter what it takes, freedom will rightfully be with us one day.
Yours Truly,
Bar?? Terko?lu
Silivri 1 Nolu
Cezaevi, F-1 Ko?u?u
Silivri/?stanbul/Turkey.
Also available in French