Over 30 books in 30 years of imprisonment

img

AMED - Writer Nusret Yıldız wrote more than 30 books in prison, where he was imprisoned for 30 years. Yıldız was only able to print one of his books due to the publishing houses' condition of transferring the works to digital media.

Amed 8th Book Fair ended after 9 days. Tens of thousands of people visited the fair, where 216 publishing houses, 26 of them Kurdish, opened stands. Many authors met with their readers and signed their books at the fair. One of those who signed their books was Nusret Yıldız, who wrote more than 30 books during his 30 years of imprisonment. 
Yıldız, who was arrested in Aydın in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Erzurum State Security Court (DGM) for "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state", was released from prison at the age of 48. Released from Şakran Type T Prison No. 2 on 30 October 2023, Yıldız wrote 30 books during his imprisonment. Only "I am Ehmedê Xani" was published by Aram Publishing House, and Yıldız's other works are awaiting publication.
 
WRITE BOOK AS CONTINUATION OF STRUGGLE
 
Stating that most of his works are in the fields of philosophy, history and literature in Kurdish and in line with the needs of the people, Yıldız said that he sees writing as the continuation of the struggle. Stating that he was looking for the way of struggle after his arrest, Yıldız said: "The continuation of the struggle in prison conditions was through writing literature, philosophy and history. Therefore, although we reacted emotionally when we were young, we did not know our roots. We were alien to the roots, history and culture of our people. The Kurdish people have survived so many difficulties and defended their language. This shows that they have a very old, strong culture and history. This made an impression on us."
 
THE GREAT HISTORY OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE
 
The way of struggle and resistance is literature said Yıldız and added: "We can say that literature emerged from history and history emerged from literature. The two compement each other. But it cannot be done without philosophy. Philosophy also shows its depth. A philosophical mind is necessary to explain history and culture. There is no history greater than the history of the Kurdish people. Of course we respect the history of all peoples, but our history is older than theirs. It would be a great service to humanity if the Kurdish history is unearthed and explained. I started writing with this belief."
 
'THE GREATEST DECISION AGAINST OPPRESSION IS TO WRITE'
 
Stating that it is difficult to write a book in prison due to intolerance of time, space, technique and ideas, Yıldız said: "For example, you work hard for 4 years, 10 years, you produce a product, and then one day it is confiscated, taken away or not given. This breaks the desire to write, to produce a product. Therefore, the biggest decision against this pressure is to write. Not only writing was not enough, but defending it also required a great deal of effort."
 
'PUBLISHING HOUSES WANT THE WORKS IN DIGITAL MEDIA'
 
Stating that there is a technical problem for imprisoned writers, Yıldız underlined that imprisoned writers have to write their works by hand, but publishing houses demand the digital version of the works and emphasised that this is unfair. Stating that due to this technical problem, only "I am Ehmedê Xani", one of the more than 30 works he wrote in prison, was published, "I had the opportunity to use a computer, someone wrote it on a computer and the book came out. But the others, especially the Kurdish ones, were not computerised, so they were waiting. They will be printed as they are computerised," Yıldız said.
 
CRITICISM OF SPEAKING TURKISH TO CHILDREN
 
He stated that when he was in prison, Kurdish people who spoke Turkish were condemned in their own society and were seen as having "lost their roots", but after he was released from prison he realised that everyone spoke Turkish. Criticising families for speaking Turkish with their children, Yıldız continued as follows: "For what purpose are they doing this? The approach of 'let them know Turkish, let their minds be open, let them be successful at school' is very wrong. Children who speak many languages are more successful at school. Those who see their mother tongue as an obstacle to their children's future do themselves the greatest injustice. A people is recognised by its own language. A people who do not speak their own language assimilates themselves and does themselves an injustice. Let us not look for enemies for ourselves. We are making the biggest enmity to ourselves."
 
FIRST FAIR ATTENDED
 
Stating that it was the first time he had participated in a book fair, Yıldız said that it made him happy. "I saw the spirit of Amed here," said Yıldız and added: "This fair is a great service for Kurdish culture. No matter what happens, no matter how deficient it is, we should not let deficiencies stand in our way. These fairs should always continue."
 
MA / Rukiye Adıgüzel
 

View More Articles

16/12/2024
11:34 Resistance against the attacks: Rojava is the honour of humanity
11:11 Oya Baydar: Opposition parties must step up
Onur Hamzaoğlu: As a first step, isolation must be lifted
10:47 There must be legal changes for a solution, isolation must end says Akın Birdal
10:11 'SDF is the interlocutor even if Turkey doesn't want it to be'
09:18 Righ to hope must be implement unconditional says Lawyer Şen
15/12/2024
10:18 Autonomous Administration must take part in all processes for unity of Syria says Journalist Adalı
14/12/2024
15:19 Democratic Nation eliminates deadlocks and conflicts says Abdullah Öcalan
12:40 Journalist Cihan: Turkey is trying to influence the new government in Damascus
12:17 Civilians targeted, ISIS regains strength says Evîn Cuma
11:55 Vigil at Qamishlo border: Defending Rojava is defending Kurdistan
10:00 Sub-governorship prevents naming murdered children to the park
09:59 We must defend democratic system in Rojava says Socialist parties members
09:33 Peace in Middle East only possible with solution of Kurdish issue says Amed residents
09:32 'Sit at the table with the Kurds, not the gangs'
13/12/2024
15:58 13 pioneer women killed in Turkish attacks
15:34 Campaign to send money to prisoners continues
15:17 Prison report: Strip search, censorship, disciplinary penalties, release postponment
14:40 Call from Amed: Let's grow the resistance and protect Rojava
14:19 DEM Party's report on rights violations
13:12 If we are united in Damascus, they will have to accept our will says PYD Co-chair
12:56 Families applies to go to İmralı
10:49 'United struggle of oppressed peoples will stop the attacks'
10:48 Councillors being prevents entry to municipality says they will resist
10:42 Court annuls, ministry approves
10:38 9 years later, wounds are still raw
10:32 Neighbourhoods burnt down in 90s targets by oil companies
12/12/2024
16:57 Protests against attacks: Speak up for Rojava's freedom struggle
14:42 Ömer Öcalan explains details of his meeting with Abdullah Öcalan
13:59 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
13:34 Kurds will be in the new map says Bereket Kar
12:28 'Attacks target democratic nation model'
12:01 'Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan' rally goal in Argentina
11:07 Imrali application to the CPT: Urgent visit
10:25 'Attacks on Rojava must stop, its status must be recognised'
09:15 She kept her son's body in mosque for 27 days: We won't forget even after a hundred years
11/12/2024
12:52 Restriction on attendance at funeral, condolence service
12:12 Yeni Yaşam newspaper worker detained
12:07 Operation continues in Bagok Mountain
11:43 Police torture: We were threatened with rape
09:24 Prisoner with cancer denied medication
09:23 77 people killed by UCAV attacks in 6 months
09:20 No solution in Syria in short term says Journalist Mutlu
08:50 Manbij statement from SDF
10/12/2024
16:24 Intellectuals, journalists and artists visits trustee appointed Êlih
16:21 People reacts attacks by Turkey and SNA: Bijî Berxwedana Rojava
16:02 692 torture applications to HRFT in 11 months
15:29 Attacks on Rojava protested during Human Rights Week
13:55 They want to destroy hope of democratic life says journalist Nazım Daştan
13:39 DBP starts aid campaign for Rojava
13:31 Qereqozaq Bridge bombed