'Voice' of Inmates Banned

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The administration of the Van Closed Prison has decided to "completely ban" the magazine that is published by the inmates and includes comic strips and articles penned by the inmates themselves.

The inmate Murat Kaymaz said in a letter he has written to bianet,

"The mail that included 'Sesimiz' (Our Voice) magazine has been confiscated and the magazine has been completely banned.

"The prison administration cited 10 different comic strips in the magazine as a reason for its decision. We requested, as prescribed by law, the 'objectionable' pages to be removed and the other pages to be sent to us. But this was not done and the magazine was confiscated."

Kaymaz said that the previous issue of the magazine was also confiscated.

"Our communication is cut by iron covers"

In the letter, Kaymaz also told that the inmates are prevented from speaking to each other by the change made to the cell doors.

"The 15x10 centimeter glass plates on the cell doors were covered with iron.

"By doing this, they both prevented us from seeing the personnel's faces and communicating with the outside, namely other inmates. By doing this, they put another ring to the chain.

"Prison administration declared the reason of this decision as 'preventing inmates from speaking to each other'." (AS/VK)