Being the Child of a Family Victimized by Decree-Laws -2

After July 15, our neighbors started saying, "Burn down their house!" about us.

My twin brother, my mother, my father, and I lived happily together in Adana. After July 15, the police frequently came to our house looking for information about my father, and our neighbors would inform us about it. After a while, our neighbors began insulting and threatening us in front of our house, shouting, "Burn their house down! They are traitors!" We tried to ignore the insults and threats and endured them for a while.

Later, when we learned that a case had been opened against my father at the police station, he decided to leave the country to avoid being imprisoned. His plan was to first cross the Meriç River into Greece and then seek asylum in another European country. However, when he attempted to cross the river, things did not go as planned. The boat he was on was sunk by masked gangs of unknown identity, and he narrowly escaped death. My father, who was in serious danger of drowning, was rescued by the Turkish coast guard.

After his arrest, he was brought before the court. The previously imposed prison sentence of 6 years and 3 months was quickly upheld, and he was convicted. Meanwhile, we faced severe financial difficulties, and even our closest relatives did not support us. Our landlord evicted us, and we had to move to another house. It felt like every door was closed to us. My twin brother and I tried to support our home by working in the industrial sector while also continuing our studies.

Of course, during this time, we were once again subjected to insults and threats from our surroundings. Even in our new home, the police did not leave us alone. They constantly followed and harassed us. In the end, we saw no other solution but to leave Turkey.

When we compare our situation in the Netherlands with Turkey, we feel much more psychologically relieved here. However, in the back of our minds, we are always concerned about our father’s health and safety. We miss him terribly and worry about him. Sometimes, we are not even allowed to speak to him on the phone, and we cannot hear his voice. Sometimes, his letters and books are not given to him. But on the days we do get to hear his voice during phone calls, we feel incredibly happy, as if the whole world belongs to us.

We are eagerly waiting for our father to be released as soon as possible and to reunite with him.

This was my story.

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