JINHA

İSTANBUL – Jailed for membership on the editorial consultancy board of the closed daily Özgür Gündem, writer and linguist Necmiye Alpay sent a message to our news agency saying, “The people who fought with their pens said, ‘Dare to think and stick to the facts.’ The elders said that and they were right. I agree with them.”

Jailed for membership on the editorial consultancy board of the closed daily Özgür Gündem for allegedly, “being a member of an [illegal] organization” writer and linguist Necmiye Alpay has been held in Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison since August 31. She shares her ward with Aslı Erdoğan, who is held in the prison on the same grounds. Necmiye Alpay answered our questions through her lawyers.

Necmiye said in her message that: “Every area where women are active and pioneering is a victory for oppressed victims. I think there are very few exceptions to this in the history. JINHA is a unique part of the history of women's struggle. The fact that they are trying to stop [JINHA] is saddening.”

Necmiye said she couldn’t follow JINHA due to being in prison but stated, “However, the importance of a struggle with the female perspective is clear.”

Necmiye noted that she was very impressed by the women she met in the prison and continued: “In prison, there are women who have been in prison for 20-30 years for political reasons. The situation is unprecedented. There are my unfinished articles and books on my desk, along with my longing for the outside! And absolutely all of that forms background. I find the solidarity network outside extraordinary. We haven’t seen so much such solidarity before. The demand for freedom and solidarity rise whenever repression rises. The people who fought with their pens said, ‘Sapere aude!’ (a Latin phrase meaning ‘dare to know!’) Stick to the facts.’The elders said that and they were right. I agree with them. Take care.”

(ro/mg/gd)