Political prisoner released after 30 years: It was sorrow and joy intertwined

  • actual
  • 11:19 28 September 2022
  • |
img
SIRNAK - Derviş Kılınç, who was imprisoned for 30 years in prison, stated that although he was happy to be released, he was sad for the friends he left behind and said, "Everything feels so unfamiliar."
 
Derviş Kılınç, who was held in prison for 30 years as a result of the State Security Courts (DGM) trials, was released on September 17. Kilinc, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for "being a member of a terrorist organisation" in 1992 in Silopi district of Şırnak, was released from Diyarbakır High Security Prison No. 1 and regained his freedom. Kilinc, who is now 55 years old, was arrested   at the age of 25, was held in prisons in Şırnak, Diyarbakır, Trabzon, Kandıra and Bartın. Having regained his freedom 30 years later, Kılınç told the Mesopotamia Agency (MA) about his time in prison.
 
JOY AND SORROW INTERTWINED
 
“I am sad to leave my friends behind,” said Kılınç, and continued, "Sorrow and joy walks hand in hand in prison. When you get out of prison after 30 years, you see a different world outside. You live alienated in prison. Its a big void. Everything feels unfamiliar. This has an effect on you. But you get over it after a while. You see big changes in the society, in daily life. This is what makes things feel unfamiliar. That 30 years took a lot from me like feelings, life.."
 
'THE THING WHICH EFFECTED ME THE MOST WAS THAT NO ONE WAS WAITING FOR ME IN FRONT OF TH PRISON'
 
Stating that he is concerned for the sick prisoners and sad, Kılınç said: "The thing which effected me the most was that there was no one waiting for me in front of the prison when I was released. No one was told I was going to be released. Not even my family. The thing I missed the most in prison was my village and my childhood. I will never forget those four walls. You hang on to life inside of those cold walls. This weighs on you. A person is deprived of a very fluid life in prison. There are good sides of it though, like experience..There were sick prisoners in our ward. They were forced to dishonourable applications and they rejected treatment for it. They should have been released. There were friends who can not meet their basic needs."
 
Stating that they had discussions about the political, social and economic debates and the attitude of the government and the opposition in prison, Kılınç said, “One of the issues we discussed was the role and mission of the opposition. If the opposition plays its role and mission and considers the social interests of the people, it is strong enough to change everything. It can give direction to Turkish politics. But those kind of people are witheld from being involved in politics."
 
'EFFORTS ARE NOT ENOUGH'
 
Mentioning the sick prisoners, Kılınç said: “Many calls have been made for sick prisoners, but these efforts are not enough. Human rights organizations, bar associations and institutions should keep sick prisoners on the agenda and make an effort more than they are doing now.”
 
MA / Zeynep Durgut  

View More Articles

20:16 Abdullah Öcalan: We are entering a new phase
17:03 MKG: 7 women journalists detained, 2 arrested
15:34 DEM Party İmralı Delegation to meet President Erdogan tomorrow
15:04 DEM Party İmralı delegation meeting with Abdullah Öcalan end
14:02 Fire extinguished on Gabar Mountain
13:53 Young people met at the workshop: We will lead the construction of a democratic society
13:16 Committee to 'seize' Kurdish property in Afrin!
12:49 Untreated prisoner loses eye
12:09 I want to meet and discuss with Öcalan says Djemila Benhabib
11:54 JINNEWS June tally: 19 women and 1 child murdered
11:42 DEM Party delegation go to İmralı
10:24 Status demand to Kurdish language: We can play active rol in process
09:32 World’s eyes on PKK: Which parties and organisations to follow?
04/07/2025
16:17 ‘Öcalan's plan has the potential to stabilize the Middle East’
16:05 Forest Fire in Omerya Area
15:57 Fire in Gabar spreads over a wide area
13:24 Arrest warrant request for Tunc Soyer and 98 Others
12:05 137 people reffered to Court in İzmir
11:50 Families apply to İmralı Directorate
11:43 Visitation ban imposed on prisoners in Wan
10:50 IHRNGO Director: Aim of the repression is to prevent new protests
09:57 Youth to meet on agenda of ‘Peace and Democratic Society Process’
09:55 We are more hopeful than ever for national unity says KNK Co-chair
09:25 'There is no chance to postpone or delay the national congress'
09:24 'I want to visit Öcalan' campaign: The main goal is freedom of Öcalan
03/07/2025
16:34 What did the European delegation discuss at the 'Round Table'?
14:05 DEM Party convenes
14:04 DFG June report: 16 detentions, 6 arrests
12:34 Youth to organize 'Democratic Society Workshop'
11:04 Legal regulations are needed to make process permanent says CHP member
11:03 IHD Istanbul Branch Chair: Ill prisoners cannot wait for September-October
11:00 KJAR: We are fighting for free women and a democratic Iran
02/07/2025
16:16 People of Şirnex demand cancel of dam projects
13:45 Delegation from Europe demands immediate and unconditional release of Öcalan
11:44 Attack on Baloch women in Iran: 1 dead, 11 injured
11:12 Abdullah Öcalan sends message to European delegation
10:12 Women to convey demands on process to Parliament
09:27 Occupation continues in Serêkaniyê, Girê Spî, and Efrîn
09:21 Embargo continues in Makhmur: Hundreds of patients unable to access treatment
09:20 Health of ill prisoners worsens in Antalya prisons
09:19 ‘Workers must be the subject of the process’
09:18 Increased Pressure on Kurds in Iran: Demand for autonomy suppressed
01/07/2025
16:17 Details of the draft DEM Party to submit for the commission
15:15 European Delegation Visits DEM Party in Istanbul
15:07 Family of Rozerin Çukur Reacts to Constitutional Court Ruling: We could not find justice
13:09 Delegation from Europe submits petition to meet Abdullah Öcalan
13:00 Fatma Bostan Ünsal: Concrete legal and political steps must accompany peace rhetoric
11:50 Bar Association Chairs urge TBB to form legal monitoring committees
11:10 Seferi Yılmaz: Everyone must work for peace against war profiteers
09:39 Let’s hold firmly to the process says Writer Faik Tac