The persecution of 16 Kurdish journalists, who were unlawfully arrested in Amed on 8 June, continues in prison. It has been revealed that journalists, who were kept in solitary cells in the provincial police headquarters for 8 days and sent to prison for their journalistic activities, had their family visit rights violated too. Hülya Oruç, who went to visit her journalist husband Aziz Oruç, editor of the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), in prison on Tuesday, drew attention to the fact that she could only see him for 20 minutes.

Speaking to ANF, Oruç pointed out that this persecution was deliberate.

Oruç said: “We had a morning visit. While the relatives of the political prisoners, who had their visits at the same time we arrived, were taken on time, we, the journalists' relatives, were kept waiting for about 15-20 minutes. When I asked why we were not allowed in, the execution officer said, ‘Everyone will be taken separately.’ However, when we eventually started the visit, it only lasted 20 minutes. Those who entered before us were still with their relatives, while we were suddenly sent away by the guards who told us that the visit was over. When we objected to this unlawfulness, the officers mocked us.”

Oruç confirmed that normally they were allowed the standard one-hour visit. However, this time they were faced with such an arbitrary practice. She also pointed out that normally the closed visit was with a glass between them. This time, in Diyarbakir D-Type High Security prison, there were iron bars, so that she could not even see her husband's face.

Oruç also called on everyone for solidarity. Pointing out that there was a rumour circulating about a transfer to Elazig, Oruç stated that when she discussed this with her lawyer, he said that there had been referrals from this prison to Elazig before, and that this situation caused concerns.

Oruç arrested before

Stating that her husband had been subjected to the same torture for years, Oruç added that he was detained and arrested a year ago in a similar plot.

Aziz Oruç continued his work in Sulaymaniyah after Dicle News Agency was closed by decree.

He was then captured in Armenia while trying to go to Europe. He was tortured and handed over to Iran, and left naked and beaten on the Turkish side. He was imprisoned by being presented in the mainstream media as "the terrorist who entered Turkey from Iran". Emphasizing that her husband, who was acquitted in this case and continued her profession, was arrested again for a similar conspiracy only one year later, Oruç said: “Even though our place is known, our house was raided at 4 am in the morning. They even slapped the search warrant on Aziz's shoulder. They scattered everything around the house, even searching the trash bin in the bathroom. They were arrested on the grounds of their journalistic activities.”

'Operation to silence journalists questioning war'

Oruç pointed out that a construction worker, with whom Aziz did a street interview, was detained for his remarks against the war. Oruç underlined that this was an operation to silence journalists who questioned the war and to intimidate other colleagues.

Children are paying a heavy price

Oruç said that their children were the most victimized in this process, and added that they could only see their father for one year. She added that her son was very bad, especially after this last arrest. “When Aziz was arrested before, our son was 15 months old and I was 2.5 months pregnant with our daughter. The time my children spent with their father was just one year. My son is traumatized because of it. The other day, he took the scissors and cut all the curtains and mosquito nets in the house. He constantly wakes up at night with nightmares and says, 'Where did my father go? Will he not come again?'. This time I had to explain to him what had happened. That's why he asks every guest who comes to the house what they do, and when someone says journalist, he keeps silent. For example, a few days ago, our neighbour came and my son asked him what he was doing, and he said, 'Doctor'. He asked my brother, and he answered he is a financial advisor. My son immediately said, 'Then tell my father when he comes to become either a doctor or a financial advisor'. He has created such a world in his own way. He thinks that if you are a journalist, you will be arrested, but if his father becomes a doctor or consultant, he will not go away again.”

Oruç said that her husband and friends are currently being held in a three-person cell. She renewed her call for sensitivity and for the release of journalists. Reminding that especially professional press organizations have a great responsibility, Oruç added that what is on trial is journalism and that if nobody stands up against this attempt to silence the press, censorship and violations will continue to increase.