Writer Esber Yagmurdereli released on health grounds; poet and publisher Recep Marasli remains in detention

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 9 November 1997, writer Esber Yagmurdereli was released provisionally for one year on health grounds. Nevertheless, the threat of re-imprisonment still hangs over him. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 23 October 1997, 19 December and 26 May 1995 (Esber Yagmurdereli); and 10 October, 30 September, 20 May and 19 March 1997 (Recep Marasli)** […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 9 November 1997, writer Esber Yagmurdereli was
released provisionally for one year on health grounds.
Nevertheless, the threat of re-imprisonment still hangs over him.

**Updates IFEX alerts dated 23 October 1997, 19 December and 26
May 1995 (Esber Yagmurdereli); and 10 October, 30 September, 20
May and 19 March 1997 (Recep Marasli)**

Yagmurdereli, who is blind, had been arrested at his home in
Istanbul on 19 October. He had been sentenced to a ten-month
prison term that was finalised on 16 September 1997.
International PEN believes that Yagmurdereli is guilty of nothing
other than being outspoken in his views on human rights,
especially those of minorities, in Turkey (see IFEX alerts).

Meanwhile, poet and publisher Recep Marasli, 41, remains in
pre-trial detention despite urgent requests from doctors in
Turkey that he be released. His condition is said to be
deteriorating and the medical facilities being offered him in
prison inadequate.

Marasli was first detained when he was 16 for articles published
in newspapers in Erzurum. He is perhaps best known as the
publisher of Komal books, which focused on the Kurdish community
in Turkey. His latest arrest occurred in March 1997, while he was
attempting to leave the country, and there are now a plethora of
charges pending against him, all of which appear to spring from
his writings and advocacy on behalf of the Kurds (see IFEX
alerts).

Recommended Action

His Excellency Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz

Basbakanlik

06573 Ankara, Turkey

Fax: +90 312 417 0476 or +90 312 230 8896

Mr Murat Baseskioglu

Minister of the Interior

Icisleri Bakanligi

06644 Ankara, Turkey

Fax: +90 312 418 1066 / 418 1795 / 417 2390
Mr Oltan Sungurlu

Minister of Justice

Adalet Bakanligi

06659 Ankara, Turkey

Fax: +90 312 417 3954 / 418 5667
Mr Hikmet Sami Turk

State Minister with responsibility for Human Rights

Office of the Prime Minister

Basbakanlik

06573 Ankara, Turkey

Fax: +90 312 417 0476
President of Parliamentary Human Rights Commission:

Mr Demir Berberoglu

Insan Haklari Inceleme Komisyonu Baskani

TBMM, Ankara, Turkey

Fax: +90 312 420 5394
your diplomatic representative in Turkey
the Turkish diplomatic representative in your country