Scottish PEN Writers for Peace Committee has been invited to participate in the campaign for the release of imprisoned Kurdish writer Ilhan Sami Comak (pr. Chomak). PEN members are encouraged to use the campaign booklet and resources below to support Ilhan’s fight for justice.
July 29, 2020Scottish PEN Writers for Peace Committee has been invited to participate in the campaign for the release of imprisoned Kurdish writer Ilhan Sami Comak (pr. Chomak). lhan is Turkey’s longest-serving student prisoner, having served 26 years of a life sentence.
Ilhan was arrested in 1994 whilst studying geography at Istanbul University. After 19 days of continuous torture, Ilhan signed a statement saying that he had lit forest fires near Istanbul in the name of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ilhan has always maintained his innocence. The statement signed under duress is the sole piece of evidence in his case.
This campaign, led by PEN Norway and Wales PEN Cymru, aims to draw attention to the injustice suffered by Ilhan and to put pressure on Turkish and UK politicians and officials for his release.
Scottish PEN members are urged to write to Ilhan, to protest to the Turkish ambassador to the UK and the Turkish minister for justice, and to urge British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to intervene in Ilhan’s case.
David Manderson, Chair, Writers for Peace Committee.