Anarchist Black Crescent, Turkey writes

SOLIDARITY WITH USAK ANARCHISTS!

(Statement of Anarchist Black Crescent-Ankara)

On 1st of December 2001 in the meeting -- organized by (Usak) Labor Platform -- named "Meeting Against Economic Crisis" M. Ozgur Kucuktekin, S. Serkan Kazak and Onur Ayaz were taken by the police with the claim of distributing a leaflet titled as "No To War and Capitalism!" and signed as Usak Anarsist Otonomu (Usak Anarchist Autonomy). Later Rahmi Tiril and A. Serkan Tomar were also brought to Usak Security and after spending two days under psychological and physical torture 5 anarchists were forced to sign the testimonies written by the cops including the claim of 'illegal terror organization'.

Anarchists were sent to DGM-SSC (State Security Court) with the claim of 'illegal terror organization' by the (Usak) Prosecutory of Republic. They were arrested by decision of the Usak court on 3rd of December and impelled to Usak E-type Prison. Prisoners spent their first 25 days in single cells. After 2 months they were transferred to Izmir Kiriklar F-type Prison and put into cells. In the first trial (13th of February 2002) Prosecutor of Republic accused them with the claim of constituting a terror organization standing on the Act 3713 Article 7/1. However the judge decided the release of A. Serkan Tomar and continuity of the arrest of the others with the claim of helping 'so-called' illegal terror organization Anarsist Genclik Federasyonu-Anarchist Youth Federation (AGF-AYF) depending on the same Act (3713) Article 7/2.

Reporters from various newspapers and periodicals (Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Milliyet, Yeni Asir, Kara Mecmua) and observers from various NGOs (KESK/Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions, DISK/Confederation of Revolutionary Unions, Izmir War Resisters Association, IHD/Association of Human Rights) and 20 lawyers from Izmir Lawyers Association participated in the second trial in Izmir DGM-SSC on 3 April. Tayfun Gonul -who were claimed to be the leader (!) of the whole anarchists in Turkey- spoke in the court as the witness of the defense. He stated: "For years I've been writing articles about anarchist philosophy on various newspapers and periodicals. I do not know these young people. I am not informed about the existence of an illegal organization named AGF. Anarchism is an idea, a philosophy and it is supported by different thinkers for years; and had never been the subject to such a claim. Anarchism is a libertarian idea rejecting centralism. It rejects an illegal organization which is connected to a central authority. Anarchist thought did not organize any terrorist action in Turkey. As a system of thought it is against terrorism." Parallel to the defense of the lawyers, prisoners were released and the case was postponed to 23 of May.

On the third trial (23rd of May) the Prosecutor of Republic defined anarchism as a doctrine aiming demolishing of the state, government, private property, family, religion and as a whole all organization, constitution and structures, and defending the fight to reach this target. Asserting that through this aim some people organized under the name of Anarchist Youth Federation (AGF-AYF), he stated that the actions of UAO (Usak Anarchist Autonomy) should be evaluated under the category of helping AGF and anarchists. The prosecutor offered that the anarchists -- except A. Serkan Tomar for whom he wanted acquittal -- should be punished according to the Act 3713 Article 7/2, and TCK (Turkish Punishment Act) 36 and 40. The case was postponed to 25th of July-10:15.

However there is no call of terror or even violence neither in the leaflet which is said to be written by them (as Usak Anarchist Autonomy) nor in the graffities. In addition according to the "information report" which was prepared by Turkish State's own security forces -and which was also sent to the court- there is no armed or violent action organized by anarchists in Turkey. In the same report there is no evidence, clue or claim about violent or terrorist acts of the (so-called) related organization (AGF). The most grotesque part is that; as Tayfun Gonul stated none has ever been questioned or judged with the claim of being a member of AGF. It is clearly known by Turkish State that people from Istanbul using this name were only judged with the claim of participating an 'illegal demonstration' and in their own declaration they tell that "AGF is not even an organization-it is their life". In summary this five young man from Usak are being judged with the claim of helping a (so-called) illegal terror organization which is even not seen as an illegal terror organization by the state itself.

We are in solidarity with Usak anarchists who are judged with the assertion of helping (so-called) a terror organization -which is not even evaluated so by the state itself- although they had never dealt with terror or violence in their actions and statements. We are protesting the oppression policy of Turkish State and Ministry of Justice against anarchists. We call all anarchist and libertarian individuals and organizations, and NGOs to involve our protest, spread out this declaration and participate in the trial on the 25th of July in Izmir DGM-SSC.

In the name of solidarity beyond borders!

In the name of a world without prisons!

To send protest messages:

TURKISH MINISTER OF JUSTICE:

HIKMET SAMI TURK

Tel: 00(90)3124196050-51

Fax: 00(90)3124173954

E-mail: hikmet.sami.turk@adalet.gov.tr