ECHR finds 'violation' in denial of Öcalan's books to prisoners  

2025-09-28 10:33:19


	ISTANBUL - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled "violation" in the application regarding the non-delivery of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's books "Democratic Nation" and "Kurdistan Revolution Manifesto", the magazine Demokratik Modernite and the newspapers Yeni Yaşam, Atılım, Kızılbayrak and Yüksel to prisons. 

	In the "Aktaş and Others v. Turkey" judgement, the Second Grand Chamber of the ECtHR noted that the prisoners' "freedom of expression was violated". Veysi Aktaş, who was released from İmralı F-Type High Security Prison a while ago, appealed to the ECHR in 2016 against the refusal of Öcalan's book "Democratic Nation" and Democratic Modernity magazines to him by the Education Board of İmralı Prison on the grounds of "terror organisation propaganda". 

	 

	Prisoner in Kocaeli F-Type Closed Prison Turan Günana took the denial of Ocalan's book "Kurdistan Revolution Manifesto" and some issues of Yeni Yaşam newspaper to the ECHR in 2018 on the same grounds. 

	 

	Ramazan İlter, who is in Menemen T-Type Prison, took to the ECHR in 2019 on the grounds that the novels "Fi" and "Çi" by Azrah Kohen sent to him by post were "obscene".

	 

	Engin Gökoğlu, who is in Tekirdağ T-Type Closed Prison No 2, took to the ECHR in 2019 on the grounds that some issues of Kızılbayrak newspaper and some issues of Yüksel newspaper were not given to him on the grounds of "glorifying and legitimising members of a terrorist organisation".

	 

	Barış İnan, also in Kocaeli F-Type Closed Prison No. 2, took to the ECHR the denial of some issues of Atılım newspaper by the education board in 2019 on the grounds that it "conveys messages to members of terror organisation (the name of the organisation is not specified)" and "promotes terrorism and violence". 

	 

	İbrahim Bektaş, in Akhisar T-Type Prison, took to the ECHR the denial of books titled "Dangerous Tales Four Seasons Autumn", "Trace in Water" and "Three Religions Three Gods" by the prison education board in 2020 on the grounds that they were "obscene".

	 

	The ECHR gathered the prisonoers' files under the title "Aktaş and Others v. Turkey" and ruled that freedom of expression was violated". The decision was taken on 2 September. 

	 

	MA / Diren Yurtsever