AGIRÎ - Speaking about the framework bill, prisoner’s mother Güvercin Aslan said: “Despite its shortcomings, it is a step toward peace. I want to spend the rest of my life with my child. Let us not be made to wait for our children any longer.”

 

Discussions continue over the “framework law” brought before Parliament as part of the Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Families of prisoners who have supported the process from the outset are calling for the scope of the law to be expanded. Güvercin Aslan, the mother of Murat Aslan, who was detained and arrested in 2010 over protests he took part in while attending university, said her son was sentenced to 28 years in prison on charges of “membership in an organization” and “carrying out activities on behalf of an organization.” She added that Aslan has been imprisoned for 16 years. 

 

Güvercin Aslan also spoke about the involuntary transfers her son has faced over the years and the difficulties the family has faced when visiting prisons. 

Güvercin Aslan said her son Murat Aslan, who was most recently transferred against his will from Buca High-Security Closed Prison in Izmir, has been held in prisons in distant cities such as Bayburt and Bandırma, Balıkesir. Güvercin Aslan stated: “In the meantime, my husband passed away from a heart attack. I also have a number of health problems. I haven’t been able to see my son for two years because of the distance and my health. We have spent years at prison gates. But we still call for peace.”

 

16 YEARS OF FORCED TRANSFERS

 

Speaking about the hardship they have endured while visiting prisons, Güvercin Aslan said: “My son was studying at university. He was studying agricultural engineering. He has been in prison for 16 years. He spent seven years in Bayburt Prison. Before his late father became ill, we visited him every month using our own means. We suffered great hardship and pain on the road. Simply because we to see our son regularly every month, they transferred him to Bandırma. The aim was to make things difficult for us and prevent us from visiting him. Ten days before Eid, we returned home from visiting him in Bandırma despite being ill. Shortly afterwards, his father suffered a heart attack and passed away. I also developed kidney failure, high blood pressure and diabetes, and underwent several surgeries. Since he was transferred to Buca Prison in Izmir, I have not been able to visit him for nearly two years because of my health and the distance. We no longer want to endure these long journeys to prisons. We want peace and a successful outcome.”

 

‘THE BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT IS A BEGINNING FOR PEACE’

 

Drawing attention to shared pain and hopes for lasting peace of mothers, Güvercin Aslan said: “We, mothers, have been through great hardships. It is not only the families of prisoners who have suffered; all mothers have experienced great pain. I am 60 years old now. I may have at most another 10 years to live. I want to spend those remaining 10 years with my children, with Murat. At this point in our lives, we no longer want to spend our days at prison gates. We do not want war. We, mothers, want peace. The process needs to move forward. Going backwards will not benefit anyone. A bill has been brought before Parliament. Even if it has shortcomings, what matters most is that the bill has reached Parliament and that a step has been taken. It is not exactly what we wanted, but we will accept it. Because this bill is a beginning, a first step, and there will be more to follow. We do not want to see any more steps backwards. They should build on this bill and introduce new laws. They have given us hope and taken important steps. Let mothers no longer have to cry. We want to be able to sleep peacefully at night.  Let us not be made to wait for our children any longer.”

 

MA / Serkan Satılmış