AMED - Behiye Sevim, one of the mothers resisting the isolation that has spread from İmralı to all prisons, said: "We want a life under equal conditions. As long as the isolation is not abolished, we will be on the streets." 

 

Prisoner Özgür Sevim was arrested after being detained on May 31, 2016 during curfew in Nisebîn (Nusaybin) district of Mêrdîn (Mardin). Sevim was tried by Mardin 4th High Criminal Court and sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment and 15 years in prison for "disrupting the unity and integrity of the country", "intentional killing", "damaging public property" and "unauthorized possession and handling of dangerous substances". The sentence was approved by the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation on October 11, 2022.  

 

CANNOT SEE HIS SON

 

Sevim is currently being held in Kırşehir High Security Closed Prison. He was subjected to severe torture when he was captured wounded. Sevim's mother Behiye Sevim (69), who lives in Amed, cannot visit her son due to her illness. Mother Sevim states that her son is in isolation and that this isolation is linked to the absolute isolation in İmralı. For this reason, mother Sevim takes part in many protests against the isolation in İmralı. 

 

After 10 months of not being able to see her son in isolation, mother Sevim said: "I have a 91 percent disability report. I have many diseases, one of my kidneys has failed, I cannot see well, I have goiter, blood pressure and diabetes. I cannot travel long distances due to these diseases." 

 

'WE WANT A HUMANE LIFE'

 

Stating that her son was put in a solitary cell after he was brought to Kırşehir, "Our children went on hunger strikes, they did not want to make phone calls for 3-4 months. We want the doors of prisons to be opened now. Enough is enough. Because we are mothers, we say 'No to death'. We say 'Yes' to peace and equality. We want a humane life, a just peace and equal conditions" mother Sevim said. 

 

Emphasizing that her son is under isolation and that this situation is not independent from the absolute isolation in İmralı, mother Sevim said: "Isolation is a crime against humanity. You have held him captive on an island and you have not let him to meet with his family and lawyers for 4 years. The isolation on Leader Apo and our prisoners must be abolished immediately. As long as the isolation is not abolished, we will be on the streets. I will be on streets even if I am alone."