Ghent student is stuck in a Turkish cell: « Instead of flying back to Belgium, I cleaned prison » (Ghent)

The Turkish Esila Ayik, who is studying photography at the KASK in Ghent, was in her home country for the Easter holidays. There she participated in a protest against the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu. The popular mayor of Istanbul is seen as the most important political opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but was arrested a month ago on suspicion of corruption.

Since then there have been a lot of protests in Turkey. On April 8, thousands of students participated in an action in Istanbul, including Esila Ayik. During the demonstration she would have held a sign with the words ‘dictator Erdogan’. The next day, Esila, together with 107 other students, was arrested. Since then she has been locked up in a women’s prison. Insult of the president is the accusation.

Read too. Arrested Ekrem Imamoglu officially elected presidential candidate in Turkey

Mentally

« Very alarming », the students and teachers of the Kask write in a joint announcement. « Esila was just observing, taking photos and exercising her right to peaceful protest. This is a limitation of her fundamental rights. We demand her immediate release. » « We follow it closely and do everything we can to support her, » adds Dean Filip Rathé.

« Esila is very happy to see the Kask, » responds teacher and documentary photographer Nick Hannes. « We know her as a very motivated, inquisitive student. She has everything to become a beautiful photographer. We knew that she went to Istanbul to visualize the protests, but we hadn’t taken this into account. This must be terrible for her. »

« We knew that she went to Istanbul to visualize the protests, but we hadn’t taken this into account. This must be terrible for her »

Nick Hannes

Lecturer

As an experienced photographer, Hannes knows what he is talking about. « I was once stuck in Libya for two days, and that was already very tough. Knowing that she has been in jail for two weeks now, without the prospect of being released … That is unlikely. It is enough to completely crack someone mentally. We already wrote a letter to the Belgian ambassador in Turkey, but because Esila is not being able to do what we can do.

Medication

What makes Esila’s situation even more acute is her medical condition. She suffers from chronic heart and kidney disorders, which means she has to take medication daily. « But she doesn’t get it, » says a friend to the Turkish newspaper Birgün Daily. « We are very worried about her health. »

Esila has meanwhile written a letter to Cumhuriyet, another Turkish newspaper. « I had a ticket back to Belgium, » she writes. « But instead of getting on the plane, I scrubbed the walls and floors of the prison. I am stuck in shock, my emotions are stuck. No fear, no concern, no sadness, no happiness. I can’t feel any emotion. I want to go away as quickly as possible and continue my photography projects. »

Read too. Turkish courts order 107 students to release after arrest during protest against Erdogan