JINHA

DERSİM – Aysel Doğan, a member of the Peace Group, cancer patient and passed her 17-year in prison, has also been detained in operation launched against co-mayors and politicians in Dersim.

Member of the peace Group, Aysel Doğan has also been detained in houses raid in Dersim. Detained Aysel Doğan and other people have been held in the Police Headquarters.

Who is Aysel Doğan?

Born in 1953, Dersim, Aysel Doğan lived in prison for 17 years in different times. Graduated from Department of Physical Education and Sport in Gazi University, Aysel was arrested during 1980 coup d'état and held behind bars for two years without being tried. In 1990, she was arrested in Dersim and held in prison in Erzincan for 11 months. After releasing from the prison, she became an independent candidate from Dersim for general election in 1991; however, she wasn’t allowed to go to the parliament even though she received a majorty of the votes in the city.

Aysel had to take refuge in Europe as she faced repression after the elections. Aysel, who lived in Europe but left her heart in Turkey, she continues to work for the freedom of her people and peace throughout her life.

Aysel, who was a member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) when she was in Europe, came from Europe to Turkey on the call of Abdullah Öcalan in 1999 as a member of the Second Peace Group. She was arrested on her return to Turkey with the other group members and was sentenced to 10 years. She stayed for 10 years in prisons in Malatya and Elbistan and was released in 2009. She moved to her hometown Dersim upon her release and founded the Dersim Alevi Faith and Culture Academy. She was arrested again because of her work in Dersim on 28 September 2011 in the scope of the KCK operations launched by the AKP government. She was this time sentenced to 18 years in prison. She was discharged due to her health problems.