VAN - Journalist Oktay Candemir's book "Seer-Divisive Stories" with a humorous narrative was not given to the prisoner who are held in Van High-Security Closed Prison because it "endangered the public safety and made it difficult to achieve the goal of recuring of prisoners."

 

The Education Board of the Van High-Security Closed Prison did not give the book "Seer-Divisive Stories" written by journalist Oktay Candemir to a prisoner. The board, on the other hand, told that the book included "obscene news, photographs and comments endangering public safety, claiming that the Turkish Republic Public Officials are fascist, slendering the public officials and therefore it prevents the prisoners from being recured.

 

EVEN IF BOOK IS NOT BANNED

 

In the evaluation of the board, it was also stated that if the book was given to the wards, "the order and general security in the institution will be weak in terms of ensuring institutional security and discipline". In the evaluation of the book it was stated that even the book is not a banned book, it would endanger public security if it was given to the prisoners. The committee decided to 'secure' the book in the storage.

 

'PEOPLE TELLING THE TRUTH ARE BEING PUNISHED'

 

Evaluating that the book was not given to the prisoner, journalist Candemir noted that his book sheds light on a period in the country. Candemir said; "Most of what is described in the book is true, but the trauma of a "Midnight Express" film continues in the state.The book tells that those who are trying to solve problems are being punished by those who don't solve the problems. What happened in this country will of course be recorded and will go down in history. I guess the government wants us to forget all about it and act like nothing happened. Underlining that the fact that the book was not given to the prisoners actually confirms what was written in the book, candemir said: "Banning a book because it prevents the prisoners from being 'recured' is ridiculous."