From the Bosphorus: Straight - Your daughter is dying, Mr. Minister

For months, activist groups, local and foreign human rights organizations, as well as local and international members of the press have been appealing for the release of Güler Zere, an imprisoned member of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP-C.

Zere was diagnosed with cancer in the 14th year of her 34-year prison sentence. After months of neglect, she was transferred to Çukurova University Hospital in Adana where she received radiotherapy. The medical report issued by the hospital recommended a reprieve for Zere as her cancer was terminal and she could not be treated under prison conditions.

The report was challenged by the Forensic Medicine Institute, which discussed Zere’s situation in the absence of an oncologist. As a result of a piece of paper signed by some doctors (!) at the institute, Zere is about to lose her fight against both the cancer and the authorities.

A statement released last week by the Turkish Medical Association, or TTB, argued that Zere has now, unfortunately, reached a medically irreversible state. The TTB thus demanded that the state brass grant her family the right to bid farewell to Zere.

“It is against the principles of human rights to keep her under the same conditions as if nothing is happening. I hope the officials pay attention to end this human tragedy soon and take the necessary steps to let her spend her last days with her family,” said Ahmet Ersin, a deputy for the Republican People’s Party, or CHP. Ersin is also a member of the Parliamentary Human Rights’ Commission and visited Zere in hospital Monday.

“Only her coffin will be released unless President (Abdullah Gül) uses his authority to grant a pardon,” he said.

Mr. Ersin is right. It became obvious that neither the Forensic Medicine Institute nor the Justice Ministry will take a step to save her life. The life of a woman is in the hands of President Gül who has the authority to pardon prisoners whose health conditions require that they be released.

We, at the Daily News, want to repeat the same appeal to President Gül for the release of Güler Zere. It is not only an obligation imposed by universal human rights but also a requirement for a man with a conscience. We believe President Gül will listen to his inner voice and will lift a burden from the conscience of public opinion.

Lastly, a final reminder:

In October, when met with protests in Brussels by an activist group demanding the release of Zere, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu surprisingly said, “Güler Zere is our daughter, not yours,” adding that his government was taking all the necessary steps to prevent such issues in the future.

Well done Mr. Minister, but we advise you to hurry up, your daughter is dying!