İSTANBUL – Imprisoned author Aslı Erdoğan speak about accusations against her. “Prosecutor shows my name on copyright page of newspaper as single evidence to “ being member of illegal organization. Maxims of law are transgressed. This is an outpouring of mediaeval’s inquisition. I was recorded first women of literature who is tried for ‘aggravated life prison sentence’ “said Erdoğan.

Closed Özgür Gündem Newspaper publish advisor member Aslı Ardoğan is tried on charge of “ being member of illegal organization” in İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court.

Erdoğan said law transformed as a tool for witch hunt on her defense speech. Aslı Erdoğan read 12 pages of her testimony ;




I see the law transformed as a tool for witch hunt. But I will pretend there is equal law while I speak about the claims against me. I am not going to teach you all law specially in front of lawyers. But I need say that Law doesn’t only protect the state and politicians. Özgür Gündem is a confirmed and legal newspaper. We are symbolic publish advisor of this newspaper. The words for accusations was taken from eight books and tens of articles. This is outpouring of mediaeval’s inquisition. A literature person does exist itself with books. My scrips, writes were seized by police as criminal evidences. An empty and discursive accusation… Only evidence on charge of “ being member of illegal organization is written my name on newspaper’s copyright page. I always say that I am anti militarist. I was never judged or sued because of my writings until now in 18 years. I always wrote about torture and prison.




I still believe we need a newspaper such as Özgür Gündem Newspaper. It has been alternative for the truth which always ignored by mainstream media.



‘Aggravated life prison sentence’ is a kind of death penalty for this century and I am the first literature woman who is facing with this prison sentence. The ones who demands aggravated life prison sentence to me are the ones who thinks they found black hole without seeing the solar system. I never received any instruction from anyone. I see as ethic to solidarizing with a newspaper which is tried to silenced.”