TAYAD and its struggle

TAYAD (Association of Solidarity With The Families of Prisoners)

The history of the struggle of the Association of Solidarity With the Families of Prisoners, TAYAD for short, goes back to the 1980s. Following the junta of September 12, 1980, tens of thousands of revolutionaries, progressives and patriots were thrown into prisons. In order to "destroy" the opposition of the regime in prisons, from day one the military fascist junta launched a systematic attack. Oppression, torture, massacres, bans and denial of rights have been widely used in prisons.

On the other hand, there have been revolutionaries who did not submit and resisted all these practices. Revolutionaries resist using their own bodies. They resist with hunger strikes, death fasts and by defending their actions in courtrooms. The prisons became the focal point of the resistance and opposition to the junta. TAYAD and the families from TAYAD were formed in this struggle. They have become the voice of their revolutionary children outside of the prisons. They became not only the voice but also the vanguard of the social opposition during the dark years of the junta when the oppression was intensified.

During the 75-day-long Death Fast action of their children in 1984 in Metris - Sagmalcilar Prison, they transmitted their voice not only to our country but to the rest of the world. As long as the struggle and resistance continued in prisons, the struggle of TAYAD also continued. In almost every resistance in the prisons, the TAYAD members were those who became the slogan of resistance.

It is essential to make sacrifices to win. The families from TAYAD have learned this through practice. The centre has been raided and been subjected to arson attacks. Their houses have been raided in the middle of the night and they have been threatened. They have been detained and arrested. None of these attacks succeeded. Then they arbitrarily and illegally closed down TAYAD on December 13, 1990 on the pretext that it was "functioning outside of what was laid down in its regulations". The TAYAD members responded that "they can lock the doors but never our hearts".

"WE WILL NOT PERMIT THE ISOLATION CELLS"

The families from TAYAD are with their children again. They are struggling against unfairness, oppression and torture, as happened before. They are teaching lessons to those who do not know how to learn. Their calls are for humanity, justice, honour and a dignified life. They know and show that it is essential to be organised and to dedicate yourself to them. They conquered the squares again before anyone else, to protect the lives of their children.

In mid-May 2000, they initiated a campaign called "Isolation Cells Are Torture, Oppose Death Through Torture." They have visited their local political parties, trade unions, professional bodies, foundations and associations. They have visited individuals one by one. Journalists, artists, intellectuals, teachers… etc. They have talked about what they want to achieve and asked their supports. They reminded them their duty of being a human, an intellectual and a democrat. They have organised house meetings. They made public statements in markets, squares and streets and got people to participate in petitions. They explained the aim of the isolation cells in their statements and bulletins. They responded to those who defend the isolation cells. They have faced oppression and bans once again. Their press releases, panel discussions, exhibitions and demonstrations were banned.

In our country it was forbidden to issue press releases. In our country to organise panels was forbidden. In our country, struggling for your rights, opposing unfairness and demanding justice were forbidden, and were seen as criminal activities. They were detained in every struggle for their rights. They were beaten by truncheons and were kicked. They were threatened in police centres. They were told "BE QUIET, GIVE UP STRUGGLING FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND STAY AT HOME." They could not be deterred. They believed all the more in their own rightness. They would not give up, no matter how much they are oppressed.

Submission meant approving torture, injustice and unfairness. Submission meant watching their children being killed through torture in isolation cells. This time they set off to Ankara to hand over the petitions to the Ministry of Justice. They faced oppression as soon as they left their home. Attempts were made to prevent their coaches departing from the districts. They tried to prevent the coaches gathering. An attempt was made to prevent them making a public statement about the reason for their trip to Ankara. Even those who gathered to say farewell were not allowed to come close.

When they approached Ankara the oppression and attacks were intensified. On the route, the coaches were not allowed to stop or have a break. They did not accept this. They were detained. Their aged bodies received kicks and blows from truncheons and combat boots. They were dragged on the floor. They were verbally abused. Some of them were taken to hospital, others to police stations. They waited. The march took three days. They completed their march despite everything.

For those who want to learn, this TAYAD march is educational from all perspectives. … TAYAD is a legitimate and democratic force. TAYAD and those from TAYAD will continue to exist wherever there is unfairness and injustice. TAYAD will continue to be one of the vanguards of the democratic opposition in the struggle against the isolation cells and the struggle for rights and liberties. They will also complete this march successfully.

TAYAD (Association of Solidarity With The Families of Prisoners)

Address: Ordek Kasap Mah. Ibrahim Muteferrika Cad. Lale Apartmani. No:6/1 Findikzade / Fatih / Istanbul

Tel / Fax: (0090) 212 5323700

Internet:www.noisolation.de