Publisher Ragýp Zarakolu in "silence protest"
Publisher Ragýp Zarakolu in "silence protest"
Publisher Ragýp Zarakolu who has been released on 11 April after five months of imprisonment within the scope of so-called KCK investigation in Istanbul stated that he will no more make any statement to media as long as Anti-Terror Law and Turkish Penal Code remain in effect. I will be making a protest of silence against the current situation, said Zarakolu.
In a statement after his release, Zarakolu evaluated the ongoing KCK operations as built on an illegal constitutional ground by all of judicial, legislative and executive powers and added; The fact that the coup constitution, which enables all kinds of unlawful ways, and the laws and enactments as its extensions are still in effect lead the whole system to a crisis of legitimacy. The consecutive governments that have come to power since 1983 have betrayed the democratic program by preferring to use the extraordinary governance opportunities provided by the illegitimate 1982 September constitution.
Announcing a silent protest action against the arrest of hundreds of people within the scope of so-called KCK operations, Zarakolu continued as follows; All kinds of speeches and statements to be made within this process will serve to normalize the abnormal situation. My release will never remedy the existing unlawfulness; it on the contrary aims to take me hostage. Freedom of thought will be nothing but a lie as long as these laws remain in effect. Freedom of expression cannot live and come true under threat. The freedom of words is restricted by the indefiniteness imposed on us by arbitrariness, prejudice, the fixed idea and the ideological perspective. It is not acceptable that the freedom of thought and expression is seen as if a favor, that words are penalized or ignored according to the present conjuncture. It means in this case that the situation is critical if expressing and publishing thoughts have become a matter of courage. That is why I regret to tell that I will not be answering the demands for an interview or statement from now on.
In a statement after his release, Zarakolu evaluated the ongoing KCK operations as built on an illegal constitutional ground by all of judicial, legislative and executive powers and added; The fact that the coup constitution, which enables all kinds of unlawful ways, and the laws and enactments as its extensions are still in effect lead the whole system to a crisis of legitimacy. The consecutive governments that have come to power since 1983 have betrayed the democratic program by preferring to use the extraordinary governance opportunities provided by the illegitimate 1982 September constitution.
Announcing a silent protest action against the arrest of hundreds of people within the scope of so-called KCK operations, Zarakolu continued as follows; All kinds of speeches and statements to be made within this process will serve to normalize the abnormal situation. My release will never remedy the existing unlawfulness; it on the contrary aims to take me hostage. Freedom of thought will be nothing but a lie as long as these laws remain in effect. Freedom of expression cannot live and come true under threat. The freedom of words is restricted by the indefiniteness imposed on us by arbitrariness, prejudice, the fixed idea and the ideological perspective. It is not acceptable that the freedom of thought and expression is seen as if a favor, that words are penalized or ignored according to the present conjuncture. It means in this case that the situation is critical if expressing and publishing thoughts have become a matter of courage. That is why I regret to tell that I will not be answering the demands for an interview or statement from now on.
