DIYARBAKIR, — Activists, including well-known academicians, writers, intellectuals etc, launched a campaign to turn Diyarbakir Prison into a museum but in August, 2009, the government announced the plan to convert the facility into a school. Finally, In September 2010 the prison was turned into a human rights museum because of strong reactions of activists and Kurdish people.
Hamit Kandal, he served his time in the Diyarbakir Prison with the hunger strike victims. After 20 years imprisonment, he got out of prison ten years ago. He carried the pain in his mind and his body as well since healing is impossible after such long lasting torture.
Kaplan speaks: “July 14 was a slap on the colonialist’s face and betrayal. I remember when they announced the death feast. Hayri Durmuş announced it during their trial to make everyone to hear. They were initially six and then the number rose to 160. After first four died, the administration accepted our requests and others quit the action. Çiçek was from my town. He participated in the PKK when he was 16. He was in front every time and he was the first of all. Today, Kurdish people follow and respect him. They taught people that living is nothing without honour.”
Another witness, Mahmut Yeşilay, who is also comrade of Çiçek, explained; “The government took an oath to break our determination and did everything whatever they can. To interrupt this killing and torment machine we needed an exit and Çiçek was one of our friends who created a real exit for Kurdish and all leftist fighters in prisons.”
İrfan Güler had been in prison for 21 years; the atrocity in the prison was on top level. All kinds of tortures gathered and practiced with new methods in Diyarbakir. There was no human there. These four people became a powerful light in the darkness of the dungeon. We just followed the light and succeeded to be human in the middle of evilness.”
Salih Sezgin got the death penalty when he was 17-year-old in 1980 and served 20 years. He has been out of prison for ten years, trying to live with memories. He witnessed both cases, and lost eight dear friends, brothers but he also witnessed that the Kurdish people have never let these honourable people’s name down.