78-year-old Mela Emin Soyal was detained in a raid on her house in the Ereban town of Şirnex's Hezex (İdil) district on October 19 within the scope of an investigation carried out by the Siirt Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Soysal was accused of "aiding a terrorist organisation". Even though Soyal had diseases such as vision and hearing problems, heart failure and COPD, he was arrested by the court on October 23 and sent to Batman Type M Closed Prison.

 

Although Soyal had a 91 percent disability report issued at Cizre State Hospital on March 1, her arrest caused public reactions. Following her lawyers' objection to her arrest, Soyal was released from prison by the court only on November 6.

 

Explaining her 20-day detention period, Mela Emin Soyal stated that his friends met his needs due to her illnesses during being in prison.

 

'MY HANDS WERE BRUISED FROM THE HANDCUFFS'

 

Soysal explained his experiences during his arrest and the days she spent inside as follows: “There is nothing good about prison. A person cannot do anything within those four walls. When they raided the house and took me, they handcuffed me and I was handcuffed all the way to Siirt. My hands were bruised. But this was not a problem for them. That's why it was so difficult. In addition to my stomach, heart and breathing problems, I have inflammation in my blood. I also had a report, but despite that, I was arrested. The arrest of a person like me meant nothing to them. Prison is a difficult place for everyone, not just people like me. People live as slaves in their hands. They do whatever they want. They were giving us food but it was bad. Even though it was bad, we ate, if we didn't eat it, we would starve. That's why we had to eat.”

 

Saying that he was taken to the hospital in handcuffs for control, Soyal said: “My friends with me were writing a petition for me to be taken to the hospital. Petitions submitted because my health was not good were accepted immediately. They took me to the hospital three times during this 20-day period." 

 

'Will I REGRET BEING A KURDISH?'

 

Stating that despite all the difficulties he experienced, a part of him was bitter because he was released from prison, Soyal said: "I wasn't sad when I was arrested. Will I regret being a Kurd after this age? I don't regret being a Kurd. When I got out of prison, I felt sad because I left my friends behind. I got out, but they stayed. I miss them so much already. This is cruelty, that's why. Is there a greater cruelty? 

 

Stating that the state looks at them as Kurds as if we were nothing, Soyal said: “They can very easily arrest and imprison someone who is sick, has difficulty even standing up, and cannot meet his personal needs. Some prisoners are not released even though their sentences are over, they say 'say you're sorry'. Why will these people regret it? Should they regret being Kurdish? Will I regret it after this age? My only request is that all prisoners be released as soon as possible. My heart hurts for them. They are being oppressed, they are living in very difficult conditions, I want them to let go." 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut