The imprisonment of Suzan Zengin continues!

ISTANBUL | 31 – 08 – 2010 | Journalist of the revolutionary newspaper Isci Koylu Suzan Zengin was arrested and imprisoned on August 29^th 20009.

Until this day, the government has not shown any real reason for her imprisonment. The charges against her are part of a conspiracy. On August 26^th 2009, she was brought to the court hearing. Before he court started friends, fellow colleges and comrades and also her husband made a protest rally in Besiktas at the Iskele square. The people demanded the immediate release of Suzan and all imprisoned journalists. A banner with the slogan “Release Suzan Zengin” signed by Isci Koylu and a banner of the trade union DISK Emekli Sen (DISK Retirement Union) writing “Revolutionary Thoughts are not a Crime! Release our member Suzan Zengin”.

Further the Ankara Initiative for Freedom of thought had a banner saying “the revolutionary press cannot be silenced, release Suzan Zengin”. A representative of the newspaper spoke about the repression against progressive-revolutionary journalists in Turkey. Right now, there are 37 imprisoned journalists in Turkey. Suzan is only one under the journalists that face oppression from side of the state. After progressive intellectual writer and author Temel Demirer spoke in behalf of the Ankara Initiative for Freedom of Thought. And former imprisoned journalist Necati Abay made the call to all media and press organizations to be more sensible towards these issues. After that the crowd started to walk to the DGM (State Security Court).

During the whole hearing the court listened to the defendants and witnesses. Even through all the evidences that were presented in the court, the final decision was postponed to February 2011. Until then, the illegitimate imprisonment of Suzan Zengin will continue.

Suzan Zengin red her defense and said that she never hided her socialist identity and that it is known that she was working for Isci Koylu in the Kartal office, she further said that her thoughts are not  crime and that she hasn’t done anything that could justify her imprisonment. She also pointed out the existing contradictions of the indictment. Her next court hearing will be on February 2011.