DİYARBAKIR – A few days ago released HDP Şırnak PM Leyla Birlik spoke out prison conditions to dihaber.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak Parliamentarian Leyla Birlik had been jailed on November 4 and released after two months.

* Can you speak about the process of jailing HDP PMs?

Immunity of parliamentarians had been removed after President Erdoğan directive on May 2016. Despite Republic People Party (CHP) chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said “this is lawlessness”, but they voted ‘yes’ to remove the immunity. Jailing HDP PMs is connected with general Turkey’s politic process. Accusations might be prepared by different reasons but the fact is that Turkey is wanted to be run by only a person. Then Turkey began to enter the dark way. Domestic and foreign policies were stonewalled with war speech. Democracy completely was suspended and our part, HDP was shown as target. Therefore judges and prosecutors had to follow the directives of power. In this context we were detained by politic operation on November 3.


* Can you speak out the moment you were detained?

I would travel from Diyarbakır to Şırnak. Police forces were nervous on the road check point. Then I informed my family and the party center. Because there was three assassination attempt toward me. Then I ended my journey in Midyat due to darking weather. Batman PM Mehmet Ali Aslan invited me to his house. Around 01.30 a.m. police knocked the door. They wanted to read the warrant. I told them that I will not open the door and coming out and reminded them that I am a parliamentarian. Then police forcible had detained me.

Police tortured me in the detention. I faced with torture especially in Şırnak where I was taken. They handcuffed my hands from behind and also I exposed to torture on helicopter while I was taken to prison. We know that there is still torture implementation in Turkey. While I was exposed to torture, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ was lying that there is no torture implementations in Turkey.

* Can you speak out the court process ?

I didn’t bear testimony as other PMs. I just speak about lawlessness. I told them they will be judged in law context. There might not be today but tomorrow. The court was like a theatre. Therefore we refused to be part of it. Our rights were seized and a politician can’t be judged because of a speech.

Trial was speedily heard. Because flights were arranged before we were taken into custody. If I wouldn’t be parliamentarian, ıt would be impossible to jailing on these accusations.

No one can speak about law, moral and conscience if someone is jailed because of attending her brother in-law’s funeral ceremony in a country. Therefore I was not suspect in the court but I was a witness. I am a witness of murdered Hacı Birlik and executed Sévé. Someday we will be witness of this massacre. I am a parliamentarian of Şırnak City and I am a witness of all things happened in Şırnak since one and half years. No one can put me on the suspect’s dock.

* Can you speak about prison experience during two months?

I was isolated in a cell during two months. Relatives could sent the letter to the prisoner even in Nazi’s Germany. Those letters had been turned the book and we can read it. But today in Turkey, right violations hit record high and prisoners can’t contact with their families. The most natural right was seized. Letters are seized in the Silivri Prison. Also right of the phone calling and open visitations were limited under the Decree with Power of Law.

I, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Sebahat Tuncel , HDP PMs Nursel Aydoğan and Selma Irmak were stayin in a single cells.


* Is there any message from politic women prisoners ?

I could only hear Sebahat Tuncel voice from my cell. But Our friend were feeling good despite all these things. They send their greets. They are not to collapse and they believe we will win end of the this painful process. We didn’t began to struggle in the assemble and it will not be finished in the assemble.


*Is there anything else you would like to add ?

We keep insist to democratic policy as Peoples’ Democratic party. It is never late. We believe peoples will win. Truth can’t be hidden by killing and jailing. Peoples will win in Turkey. Any questions can’t be resolved without resolving Kurdish Questio. Therefore we should start peace negotiation again and negotiation should re-start with Mr. Öcalan. Kurdish politicians must released immediately.