FREEDOM FOR SANDRA

Austrian citizen Sandra Bakutz is someone who has joined delegations to Turkey a number of times on account of her sensitivity to the human rights situation there. Most recently she went there as an independent journalist to observe the trial arising from the April 1, 2004 “Falsified Documents” operation, leaving Austria on February 9.
When the plane arrived at Istanbul‘s Ataturk Airport, police removed her from the aircraft.
Today, February 10, as a result of an imprisonment order issued by Ankara’s No.2 State Security Court (also known as the Serious Crimes Court) in September 2001, she was transported to Pasakapisi Prison. But despite it not being clear what specific crime she is being charged with, she has been imprisoned accused of “membership in the illegal DHKP-C organisation”.
Turkey‘s authorities, who say the country has taken “giant steps towards democratisation” as part of the EU membership process, have shown by imprisoning Sandra that they continue to ban beliefs and engage in anti-democratic actions. So far 118 of our people have lost their lives in the isolation prisons called “F-Type prisons”, whose establishment is supported by the EU. The EU countries are partners and accomplices in the Turkish state’s thick dossier of human rights abuses, bans on beliefs and anti-democratic practices.
At today’s hearing, Sandra was imprisoned at proceedings in the same courtroom where the state in Turkey held the April 1 trial. This trial is based on falsified documents and was given support by EU member countries. Since being detained she has been on hunger strike and has continued this resistance after being imprisoned.
The state, which seeks to use false documents to brand as terrorist democratic institutions and their workers, is also using demagogy about terrorism to try and intimidate those who oppose human rights violations.
Previously, Sandra was detained and threatened by plainclothes police in Ankara in 1998, when she went with a delegation to Turkey to protest against disappearances. Those like Sandra who are against human rights violations are being branded as terrorists by those who seek to ban the defence of democratic rights and freedoms.
We, the International Platform for Struggle against Isolation, call on progressive and democratic organisation to support the struggle for rights and freedoms in Turkey in the way Sandra has.
SANDRA MUST BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY

February 11, 2005
UTMP (International Platform for Struggle Against Isolation)