ŞIRNEX - Ömer Evsen, who was released after 30 years, drew attention to injustice in Turkey with the words "there is no freedom outside". Evsen said: "There is an aggravated isolation in prisons. More initiatives are needed to end the violations of rights."

 

Ömer Evsen, who was tried at the State Security Court (DGM) on charges of "destroying the unity and integrity of the state" after being detained in the village of Xendek in the Hezex (İdil) district of Şirnex in 1992 was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, was released from the High Security Prison.

 

A MORTAR HIT HIS HOUSE, HIS WIFE DIED

 

Evsen was exiled to more than 10 different prisons in 30 years. When Evsen was in the second year of his arrest, his 27-year-old wife Emine Evsen lost her life as a result of the mortar shells fired by the soldiers on their house in the village. Evsen's mother also lost her sight due to the pain she suffered, while her 4 children grew up without both mother and father. Evsen entered the prison at the age of 27 and came out at the age of 57.

 

Evsen, who was released after 30 years, spoke about his prison life.

 

THERE IS AGGRAVATED ISOLATION

 

Stating that prisons are areas of isolation and that policies aimed at breaking the will are implemented, Evsen said: "I was sent to more than 10 prisons during my detention. Many of them were exiles. These terms and conditions changed after 2015 and the coup attempt. There are laws but they are not followed. For example, they brought me from Type D to a maximum security prison. Normally, someone with a 3-year sentence should not be taken to a maximum security prison. We were sentenced to a cell because we had a radio with us. However, we were listening to the radio in every prison. Since we had a radio with us, we were sentenced to 11 days in solitary confinement. This was an arbitrary practice. Now everything is punishment. Everything you say and everything you do to break the will and to surrender is punished. There is aggravated isolation in prisons. Even the means of communication have been eliminated.”

 

'THERE IS NO FREEDOM OUTSIDE'

 

Evsen, who was released after 30 years, said: "there is no freedom outside. The policies applied inside are applied to people outside as well. However, when I was released after 30 years, I experienced two emotions at once. Both of these feelings are very heavy and painful. It is very difficult to leave behind the people with whom I have struggled and sat down with for years. But right now, I don't see any freedom outside either. But of course, I get excited when I see the warmth of people. Then people understand that; our price is not in vain. The struggle continues anyway.”

 

TURKISH STATE GET STRENGTH FROM SILENCE'

 

Evsen said: "Press statements made outside do not respond to these isolation. If the outsiders had fulfilled their responsibilities, our friends could have escaped death. There are hundreds of ill prisoners. The Turkish state gets strength from silence. The voices of those prisoners should be heard and different demonstrations should be done for them. They should not be forgotten and should be protected. Their voice is also our people. But the public themselves can bring them up. The prisoners had a great struggle against all the oppression and torture get through under isolation and that this struggle would continue."