Barış Pehlivan: 'When we do this crazy work, just liking or feeling sad isn't enough'

Journalist Barış Pehlivan was the first guest on the program Filtresiz with Özge Uzun. 

Making remarkable statements on the program, Pehlivan described his prison process, which he has entered 5 times, and his search for justice.

In response to Özge Uzun's question: "I want you to imagine something now. Close your eyes. God forbid it doesn't happen again, you went to prison. You entered the ward. Normally you stay alone, but the ward isn't for one person. There is a young lad in the ward. 'May God save you, brother, may God save you,' he says. You looked at him, you asked the young man, 'At this young age, what's the matter, why did you get in?' The young man said: 'I wrote "Freedom for Barış Pehlivan" on the wall. I got 6 months. I don't even know you, brother, what it is, but we got in,' he said to you. What would you feel?", Barış Pehlivan gave the following answer: 

'I WILL NOT SELL OR RENT OUT MY PEN'

"That's a very beautiful question. I would probably introduce myself first. Because I have encountered very similar stories, that is, I have met people inside who got into trouble because they were defending our rights, without knowing you, without knowing me at all. But this is also something like this; I am paying these prices for millions of people I don't even know. I am growing up longing for my own child so that the children of those millions of people can live in a better, more peaceful, and brighter country. Now, this is my job. I learned this job this way. The moment I cannot do this job this way, I will not sell or rent out my pen; I will break that pen myself. But I know this: prison is a concept that is feared a lot, it's not a good place, I'm not stupid enough to romanticize prison, but people fear what they don't know.

'THEY ALSO HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HOPELESS'

Once you know that prison, once that wall of fear is broken, you encounter courage. That's why, for example, they cannot scare me by putting me in prison. On the contrary, I get stronger every time I come out of prison. Because I say, if they took 6 months from my life, I will add 12 months to my life. If they took 1 year from me, I will add 2 years. I have always done that until today, and I will continue to do so. But let no one have any doubt, I and dozens of colleagues like me, as well as you, if you are still stubbornly trying to do this profession, be sure, let those watching us be sure, we continue because we still have faith in a fair, hopeful, and contemporary future, and because we love this country very much. They also have no right to be hopeless".... 

'ORGANIZE AND MULTIPLY THE SOLIDARITY'

Pehlivan continued his striking words as follows: 

"While we do this crazy work, while we do these crazy things, they also need to lend a hand. I mean, this work doesn't happen just by liking on social media or feeling sad, my friend. These journalists are paying these prices for you and your loved ones; if they can endure these difficulties, you may not see the strength in yourself to endure them, but at least watch the broadcasts of those journalists, read their books, share their articles. This is how this struggle can grow, and they should all organize. This is what organizing is. Organize and multiply this solidarity. Be sure that those beautiful days will come."

Drawing attention to the importance of professional solidarity and social organization, Barış Pehlivan emphasized his belief in a fairer and brighter future.

News Source: 12punto