MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed (Diyarbakır)- Kurdish musician Emel Çiftçi was taken into custody in Amed on August 21, 2023 as part of an investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Although she received treatment for uterine cancer, she was transferred to prison pending the trial on charges of “membership in an (terrorist) organization” and “leading an (terrorist) organization”. At the first hearing held by the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court on January 23, 2024, she was released from prison under judicial control.

NuJINHA spoke to Emel Çiftçi about her arrest, the condition in Diyarbakır Women’s Closed Prison and the hunger strike started by political prisoners.

‘What stands trial is Kurdish art, language and struggle’

Emel Çiftçi was sent to prison after a few hours of detention and interrogation based on the statements made by the secret witness named Ulaş. Speaking about her arrest, she said, “What stands trial is Kurdish art, language and struggle.”

‘Arrests cannot stop us’

Arrests and trials aim to stop the struggle of the Kurdish people, Emel Çiftçi said, “We stand trial because we are Kurdish. The aim of the arrests and trials is to try our struggle for our language, our existence and our truths. Whatever we do to preserve our culture, language and identity is considered as ‘criminal evidence’. Even our cultural and artistic activities are considered as ‘criminal evidence’. Emel Çiftçi also said that arrests could not stop their activities. “The halay of this struggle will never stop. As a Kurdish artist, I will continue to lead this halay. These arrests will never stop me and my colleagues from struggling.”

‘Isolation has been imposed on every political prisoner’

Emel Çiftçi was behind bars in Diyarbakır Women’s Closed Prison for five months. “The isolation imposed in Imrali prison has spread to all prisons today. The isolation has also been imposed on political prisoners held in Diyarbakır Women’s Closed Prison; political prisoners are not allowed to even greet each other or engage in social activities.”

‘There is no opportunity for treatment in prison’

There are many sick prisoners behind bars, Emel Çiftçi said. “Halise Aksoy, who was held in the same ward with me, has not been released from prison although she suffers from chronic diseases. Sick prisoners are denied treatment. Treatment does not mean seeing a doctor or taking medication; sick people need appropriate physical conditions to recover. There are 70-year-old women in prison although they suffer from chronic diseases. Cancer patients are also behind bars. In the last six months, two sick prisoners died in prison. More sick prisoners will die if we do not say no to these conditions.”

‘I will keep speaking out without hesitation’

Commenting on the hunger strike launched by political prisoners demanding the physical freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and a resolution to the Kurdish question, Emel Çiftçi said, “Isolation is a crime against humanity. Everyone should speak out to break the isolation. As a Kurdish artist, I will keep speaking out without hesitation.”