The AKP government, which re-intensified the isolation system on İmralı Island on April 5, 2015, implemented trustee policies in Kurdistan after the July 15 coup attempt with the concept of war, and launched political genocide operations against the elected Kurds. After September 11, 2016, when the trustee policy was put into effect, the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) dismissed 96 co-mayors of the municipality and appointed governors and district governors instead.

 

In Riha, Hewag (Bozova) Municipality Co-Mayor Zeynel Taş was dismissed and a trustee was appointed in his place. Taş was arrested on December 12, 2016, for his virtual media posts and attendance at funerals, and was sentenced to 11 years, 9 months and 22 days in prison.

 

Taş, who was transferred to Yozgat No. 1 Type T Prison on September 30, 2022 after his 6-year detention in Hilvan No. 2 Type T  Prison, has difficulties in visiting his family living in Hewag district due to the long distance between them. 

Taş's mother, Dursun Taş (76), who has a heart disease and has platinum in her waist, has not been able to see her son for about two years. Taş's older brother, Şevket Taş (50), said that his family was also punished when his brother was sent to Yozgat. 

 

'THE KURDS MUST NOT SEE THEIR MOTHER' POLICY

 

Stating that what happened was a policy of "The Kurds must not see their mothers", Taş said: "Since my brother was the Mayor of the BDP, the AKP government could not tolerate it. For this reason, my brother was arrested with empty indictments. This has no place in law. The will of the people was ignored. After the trustee was appointed, he did nothing for the benefit of the public. Afterwards, the AKP municipality did nothing for the benefit of the public. However, while the municipality was in the hands of BDP, my brother provided very good services to the public. For this reason, he was very loved by the people."

 

HIS MOTHER HAS NOT SEEN HIM FOR A YEAR AND A HALF

 

Stating that his mother had difficulty in going to see him after his brother was sent to Yozgat Prison, Taş said that his family was also punished when his brother was exiled. Stating that his mother has health problems, Taş said, “My mother is 76 years old and lives on platinum due to heart failure and a broken back. After my brother was exiled to Yozgat, we were able to take my mother only once. She fell ill on the road and could not stand up for days. Due to health problems, we could not take her again. My mother hasn't been able to see my brother for a year and a half. My mother’s health does not allow her to visit my brother."

 

Taş said: "My mother says, ‘Let me see him once, even if I die on the road.’ We don't tell my mother that we are going to see him. We are going secretly. It is very difficult for us to travel back and forth. We have to leave the day before. We don't have a place to stay because it is a place we are strangers to. On the way back, my brother has to use up his phone allowance, which is once a week. He's calling us to see if we’ve arrived because he's curious. He is also worried that something will happen to us on the road."

 

RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST PRISONERS

 

Referring to the rights violations suffered by prisoners in prisons, Taş said: “Prisoners are constantly subjected to arbitrary treatment by the prison administration. In fact, my brother's exile was in itself an arbitrary treatment. Many prisoners like him were exiled to prisons away from their families for arbitrary reasons. Prisoners are constantly subjected to human rights violations."

 

'THE PUBLIC MUST PROTECT THE PRISONERS'

 

Emphasizing that the public must support the prisoners against the pressures in prisons, Taş said: “If my brother's release is not postponed, he will be released after 22 months. However, we are also concerned about my brother's situation, as many prisoners released were postponed on arbitrary grounds. In order for these unlawful acts to end, the public must protect the prisoners. We must not forget about the prisoners in dungeons. We need to be in solidarity with the prisoners against unlawful and arbitrary treatment."

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş