ANKARA - Zeynep Han Bingöl, the former co-mayor of the imprisoner Qereyazi whose release was prevented, stated that "regret" was imposed on them and emphasized that lawlessness can be eliminated with an organized struggle.

 

Zeynep Han Bingöl was elected as the co-mayor of the Peace and Democracy Party in the Qereyazi (Karayazı) district of Erzirom in 2014. Bingöl was arrested after being taken into custody on December 6, 2016, and a trustee was appointed in his place. Bingöl was accused of "being a member of a terrorist organization" on the grounds of her municipal services, meetings with headmen, commissions she established, party activities, running the co-presidency system, social media shares and secret and open witness statements. Bingöl was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison at the verdict hearing of the case in which he was tried on the said charge, held on November 6, 2017.

 

'THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO BREAK THE RESISTANCE OF WOMEN'

 

Drawing attention that the concepts of democracy and freedom remain in the discourse in Turkey, Bingöl said: "A translator's fee is required to give a defense in Kurdish in court. When you speak a word, it is considered an 'unknown language'. MPs defending the Kurdish identity and the rights of different beliefs in the Parliament face intolerance. Violence and oppression are applied to Kurds who resist and defend their rights, especially women. The same policies of oppression and cruelty have been applied from past to present. If real democracy is implemented, the ruling mentality cannot operate its own system. For this reason, it is trying to break the resistance of struggling women."

 

'THE PURPOSE IS TO IMPOSE THE REGRET'

 

Noting that the decisions of the Administrative and Observation Board are a continuation of the policies in question, Bingöl said: "The Administrative and Observation Board is a continuation of the policy of intimidation, a violation of rights. When we look at the decisions of the Board, their purpose is understood. We can see that it is a text that is far from serious, abstract and filled with allegations. 'You are prisoners., we will treat you any way we want'. Their aim is to impose 'regret' and create psychological pressure. The board established in prisons, which sees itself as the power of the state, is trying to establish its own authority. Law and law do not work, attempts are being made to render the constitution dysfunctional. The local court violates the rights given to us by law and carries out an arbitrary practice."

 

CALL TO WHOLE SOCIETY

 

Noting that the isolation has spread to the whole society, Bingöl continued as follows: "For this reason, all circles must show an organized stance by using all democratic ways and methods. Unity and integrity must be ensured in individual, social and organizational terms. The decisions of the Administration and Observation Board are also due to isolation. Knowingly, human rights, legal organizations and families should act jointly. Politicians and all opposition groups should gather on a basis of resistance and produce policies with a louder voice. Rights and law defenders should put forward actions that will make the law work in this period when the law is trampled on."

 

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