The administration of Kocaeli F type Prison No. 1 seized the letters written by 16 prisoners to journalists including Derya Sazak, Nuray Mert, Özgür Mumcu, Ezgi Baþaran, Umur Talu, Hüseyin Aykol and Yýldýrým Türker, considering the letters as ‘prejudicial’. Blacklisting the mentioned journalists and writers, the prison administration argued that through the letter prisoners intended to ‘mold public opinion by using decisions and information that are currently in judicial phase and haven’t finalized yet’.

While the prisoners’ letters, written to journalists to convey the abuses of right and torture they are subjected to, are seized by the Kocaeli F type Prison No. 1, the ban in question came up with a letter written by prisoner Hüsamettin Yavuz to ANF reporter Zeynep Kuray.

According to the letter, the ‘prejudicial’ ban on letters to journalists has continued for months. While the letters are seized arbitrarily and unlawfully without a court decision, the prison administration argues that prisoners give misinformation in the letters.

In his letter, Yavuz remarks that the administration of Kocaeli F-type Prison No. 1 has a list of the ‘prejudicial’ letters, explaining which prisoner wrote to which journalist.