This is a personal account of a man who was wrongly accused, arrested, and imprisoned in Turkey for 33 years, 9 months, 17 days, and 11 hours. He recounts the traumatic experience of being tortured, denied justice, and subjected to inhumane conditions. Despite his efforts to prove his innocence, he was continually denied a fair trial and was instead offered a monetary compensation for his suffering, which is pending a supreme court decision.
The man describes the devastating impact of his imprisonment on his mental and emotional well-being, including the loss of his youth, his family, and his sense of trust. He also expresses his fear of being wrongly accused again and his struggle to rebuild his life after his release.
Throughout the account, the man emphasizes the importance of justice and the need for accountability from the state and the judiciary. He questions the value placed on his life and the years he spent in prison, highlighting the injustice he suffered and the lasting impact it has had on his life.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker was born in Tomarza, located in the Develi district of Kayseri.
2. The speaker is the seventh child of a veterinary health officer.
3. The speaker was working in a governmental institution as an officer before their arrest.
4. The speaker was charged with a crime and arrested without justification.
5. The speaker was tortured in a police station for 45 days.
6. The speaker's feet were swollen and bleeding after being tortured.
7. The speaker was sent to prison without socks in their shoes.
8. The speaker attempted to stab themselves while in prison.
9. The speaker's brother hired a lawyer to help with their case.
10. The brother had to sell two furniture stores to pay for lawyer fees and judiciary expenses.
11. The speaker spent 15 years in single cells during their 33-year prison sentence.
12. The speaker went on a hunger strike more than 20 times during their imprisonment.
13. The speaker was transferred to different prisons, including Bitlis, Siirt, Adıyaman, and Ulucanlar.
14. A judge eventually cleared the speaker's name, and they were released from prison.
15. The speaker was reunited with their brother after their release.
16. The speaker applied to various jobs and employment centers after their release but was unable to find work.
17. The speaker started selling prayer beads in front of a bank building to make a living.
18. The speaker has evidence and proof of their innocence, which they sent to the Constitutional Court.
19. The speaker was offered compensation for their imprisonment, but it is pending a decree from the Supreme Court.
20. The state valued the speaker's 33 years in jail at between 45,000 and 200,000 Turkish liras.
21. The speaker still struggles with the consequences of their imprisonment, including fear and trust issues.