Pınar Selek
Freedom to Research, Freedom to Pınar!

The public statement Pınar Selek made on January 25th, 2013, after the decision of life sentence, in Strasbourg.



I told French and Turkish media about my first reactions. I told I will continue to struggle till I die. Now I’m saying that, these words will go on spreading even if I die. This is because of something I saw yesterday in front of the court house. I told this to the journalist friends because I got excited as well, there were lots of students (in front of the court house), from 1st grade, 2nd grade who have rented busses from everywhere, from İzmir, Ankara, from many cities of Turkey, come together and said, “We all are Pınar Selek.”

This is all because they chose me as an example for intimidating the researchers and the students and said that if you decide to cross the line, we will punish you and you will be the same with Pınar Selek.

When they saw that I’m going on, solidarity got wider, bigger and many people got confidence and said, we can do the same. It was beautiful because there were many students from 1st and 2nd grade. And the researchers, of course, who were already there and standing with me for 15 years. But when I saw the new generation holding the banners, I said, we already won this struggle. Not just me, these words will exist forever.

I don’t feel so good, as I’ve told the journalists yesterday. There were many people with me and we were all following and waiting. 10 minutes later, another 10 minutes, many breaks were given. Then my phone rang, they said... Like so... Life sentence. I’ve sentenced first time in 15 years. I’ve been acquitted, appeals occurred, but it was never the sentence. Yesterday I said that I feel like I’ve received the death knell of a close one, a very close one. I’ve experienced this with my mother. After her death, I’ve said that it’s not real. I couldn’t have believed that. It’s the same now. Everybody started to ask questions, all the journalists... I haven’t had the time of thinking just for two minutes because my phone was ringing constantly, there were many journalists. Of course I should talk about the decision. I was supposed to be visible. It’s very important. I appreciate the journalist friends and I said that I was going to think that night and arrange a press meeting following day to state where I’m standing.

You’ve asked some solid questions about what I’m planning to do. I can say that, I had hope in my heart this morning; the struggle continues. My lawyers are appealing to the Supreme Court of Appeals now. We know Supreme Court of Appeals hasn’t earned our trusts but still there’s a lot of illegality and we have a lot of power.

I believe in legal struggle. I’ve always believed in because my grandfather was a lawyer, my father is a lawyer, and I spent a lifetime with legal struggle. This is a part of democratical struggle. We’ll go on with, how can I say, the same thing. (Someone in the room makes a comment) It’s true that we’re exhausted, we’re human, not machines. I feel so bad, and exhausted, and so on. But still, we have power and we’ll stay the course. I’ll do everything necessary to go back to my country. These are my first words, because I’m in love with İstanbul. I really am. All my beloved ones are there. I’ll do everything to go...

Sometimes I repeat to myself, life sentence. Literally, life sentence... They made me a killer, a killer and a criminal. The certain thing is I have no juridical assurance. No one in Turkey has, not only me. Many people doesn’t have juridical assurance. This is because even if there’s an acquittal, they could change it the next day. There are many people in prison kept there for one year without being present in any court room.

I’ll see what I can do for my safety, what I need for going on thinking, questioning and working with the feeling of safety. I’ll do everything but at the same time I’ll go on with my struggle of going back to my country.

But I think I need one or two days to discuss, think and decide for the legal direction.

Thank you...

Translation: Gülce Özen Gürkan
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Mahkeme Süreci Court Process