IZMIR – A letter written by Kurdish political prisoner Zeki Bayhan, who was transferred to İmralı Prison as part of the Peace and Democratic Society Process, has been translated into three languages and published in the journal Feminist Asylum. 

 

The letter, which addresses the issue of isolation in Turkish prisons, was originally written in Turkish and is now available in Kurdish, English, and French.

Bayhan’s letter, structured around seven key themes on prison isolation, was translated by a Paris-based collective focused on solidarity with women and LGBTQ+ prisoners. The translation project began in January 2024 and concluded in June. The letter was featured in the fourth issue of Feminist Asylum, a journal published annually. In an editorial note, the magazine described Bayhan’s contribution as "a call not to forget those inside, from the perspective of someone behind bars."

 

'THE LETTER FOUND ITS OWN WAY'

 

Bayhan’s lawyer, Fatma Demirer, a member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) in Izmir, explained that the idea for the letter emerged during a panel on prison isolation held in 2024. Bayhan had sent a letter to be read during the event, which received a strong positive response.

 

Fatma Demirer said: “The content and the structure deeply moved people. When we later shared it with the collective in Paris, they also found it very impactful. The idea of translating it into multiple languages came naturally."

 

Demirer added that the letter remains relevant today as arbitrary isolation practices continue in Turkish prisons. “We’ve done our part outside to ensure the letter reached broader audiences,” she said. “Now it’s making its own way.”

 

WHO IS ZEKİ BAYHAN?

 

Zeki Bayhan was born in 1976 in Colemêrg (Hakkari). He was arrested in 1998 for political reasons while studying at Anadolu University’s Faculty of Architecture and Engineering. During his incarceration, he completed a degree in economics. In prison for 27 years, Bayhan was transferred to İmralı High-Security Prison following the launch of the peace process. 

 

He is also the author of several books, including: Democratic Ecological Gender-Liberationist Paradigm (2011), 21st Century Freedom Ideology: Democratic Socialism (2015), Democratic Nation – A Departure from the Genocidal Nation-State Paradigm (2016), Rising to Zero (2018), Why a New Social Science Paradigm I – The Deadlocks of Modern Social Sciences (2024), Why a New Social Science Paradigm II – On the New Paradigm and the Sociology of Freedom (2024).

 

MA / Uğurcan Boztaş