One of the mothers who have been holding a vigil in front of the Gebze Prison, Sultan Bozkurt, warned that coffins will start to come out of the prisons.

Sultan Bozkurt has been holding a vigil to lend her voice to her daughter Newroz Bozkurt, who has been on a hunger strike since March 1 in the Gebze Prison, and to all other political prisoners. She has faced police brutality every time, was battered and detained, and thinks the isolation in Imrali has spread throughout society. Sultan Bozkurt, determined to continue her struggle until the isolation is ended, spoke to the ANF about their protest.

21 YEARS IN PRISON

Sultan Bozkurt has been traveling back and forth between prisons for 21 years for her daughter Newroz Bozkurt, who was sentenced to life in prison. In 1994,Bozkurt was forced to migrate from the Yuceli village of Mardin’s Kiziltepe district where she was born and raised, and says only those who have seen the destruction of war know the value of peace. Bozkurt’s daughter also met the ruthless face of the state early on, as Newroz was detained when she was 14 years old.

“WE SUFFERED A LOT”

A police chief said to Sultan Bozkurt, “Your daughter has been in prison for 20 years, why now?” to which she said, “My daughter has been unjustly imprisoned for 21 years. She has never hurt a fly. She was a 14 year old child when she was detained. They said she was the head of Diyarbakir operations and tortured her for 27 days. We appealed to the Prosecutor’s office countless times so she wouldn't disappear in custody. They didn't leave her alone even after we were forced to migrate. The day she got out of Batman Prison, they tried to abduct her with a car. We suffered a lot. This is a policy of intimidation. We want these policies to end.”

“WE ARE AT OUR LIMIT”

Sultan Bozkurt said they are at their limit and stressed that Ocalan must be allowed to meet with his family and lawyers at once. Bozkurt said freedom and peace can't be achieved before the isolation is broken, and states that their children are wasting away every day to clear the way for society.

WHY ARE SOCIALISTS SILENT?

Bozkurt called for awareness and concluded her words with: “Our children are on their death bed. Nobody can say afterwards that they didn't hear, they didn't know. Those who remain silent in the face of this tyranny will also have a responsibility in coffins coming from prisons, and they will be the first to be held to account. Yes, the state is a dictatorship, yes they don't take steps, but why are they silent? Why are the socialists silent? There must be a limit to fear. Fear serves nothing, and courage can break through anything. There is an isolation imposed upon not just Mr. Ocalan but all of society. Nobody can hold a press statement, nobody can make a sound. How long will this silence last? We must say enough is enough. Everybody should come out and support the mothers. Let's put a stop to this tyranny.”