2017: Turkey: Hasip Yanlıç
Norwegian PEN and PEN International are concerned at the arrest and detention of writer and Kurdish PEN member Hasip Yanlıç who was charged on 6 July 2017 with “aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation without being a member” after being arrested at his house in Diyarbakır. Norwegian PEN and PEN International fears that Hasip Yanlıç is being targeted for his writings and outspoken stance on linguistic rights and Kurdish education. In this letter, we call on the Turkish authorities to release Yanlıç immediately.
Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül
Ministry of Justice
Milli Müdafaa Caddesi: 22
Bakanlıklar
06659 Kızılay-Ankara
Republic of Turkey
Oslo 16th August 2017
Dear Minister,
Norwegian PEN is concerned to hear of the arrest of Hasip Yanlıç who on 6th July this year was charged with «aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation without being a member», and is currently being held in Diyarbakır Closed D Type Prison.
We fear that Yanlıç is being targeted solely for his writings and his outspoken stance on Kurdish education and linguistic rights.
Norwegian PEN calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Yanlıç, as well as of all other detained writers and jounalists as long as they are not being charged with a criminal offence and tried promptly in accordance with international fair trial standards.
We furthermore call on Turkish authorities to not use the state of emergency to crack down on peaceful protests, civil society, media and education. We likewise urge Turkish authorities to put an immediate stop to the crackdown on the Kurdish regions, and to do their utmost to bring about a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict.
Yours sincerely,
Ms Johanne Fronth-Nygren
Member of Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
COPY:
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım
The Turkish Embassy in Norway
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
