Journalists should not be in prison, says CHP

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

DHA photo

Turkey’s journalists, writers and students should not be in prisons, the main opposition Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has said, while further criticizing the ongoing coup plot trials.

“I call the Silivri Prison ‘Silivri Academy,’ because the number of books written by the inmates there is approaching 100,” Kılıçdaroğlu said yesterday as he visited the 31st International Istanbul Book Fair, where he also signed the books of arrested Ergenekon suspects Mustafa Balbay, Tuncay Özkan and Oda TV suspect Soner Yalçın.

Kılıçdaroğlu said books were for illuminating peoples’ minds but today authors were imprisoned for their rightful work.

“This country’s prisons should not be home to writers, intellectuals and students who demand free education,” said Kılıçdaroğlu.

“Please apply to your conscience when thinking of the Silivri case,” he said. “Such an injustice might change its direction to target you in the near future. From wherever or whomever it is coming, injustice is injustice and should be met with a collaborative resistance by the whole intelligentsia and patriots of this country.”

The books signed by Kılıçdaroğlu will be sent to the imprisoned Balbay, Özkan and Yalçın.