Cihan Erdal, a Carleton University PhD student who recently returned to Canada after two years of imprisonment in Turkey, spoke at a panel Nov. 3 to reflect on his experience and to highlight the importance of solidaristic activism in unstable political climates.
The panel was hosted by Carleton’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology in collaboration with the Department of Law and Legal Studies. Erdal’s partner, Ömer Ongun, also spoke at the panel, alongside Carleton professor Jacqueline Kennelly.
Erdal was a political prisoner in Turkey from September 2021 to June 2022 after being accused of inciting political protests in 2014 during his involvement with the People’s Democratic Party of Turkey. In June 2022, he was granted conditional release and was forced to stay in Turkey while awaiting a final trial decision. In September 2022, the Turkish court released him on bail.
Erdal said the feeling of returning to Canada and being free again was almost surreal.
“When you’re in prison, time moves very differently and your perception of time changes,” he said at the panel. “I still feel that even though I’m back home.”
After learning about Erdal’s imprisonment two years ago, Ongun said he knew he had to make the choice between publicizing the case to gain the support of the public, or to keep it secret to ensure the safety of his family. Eventually, he said he knew he had to spread awareness about the injustice.
While Erdal was imprisoned, Ongun said he was busy creating a support movement in Canada, doing all he could to make Erdal’s time in prison as smooth as possible.
“When I first got the news, there were so many emotions that I wanted to express but I kept my composure and got to work because I had to be strong,” Ongun said.
Ongun said the collective effort from community members made the support movement impactful. Community members were doing everything from cooking meals for Ongun to helping him write letters and emails to Erdal in prison.
Erdal said the rallying support from the community gave him strength while he was imprisoned.
“Seeing the coalition of support that was organized by Ömer gave me a newfound hope and eagerness to continue fighting,” Erdal said.
In September, friends and peers alike celebrated Erdal’s return, including Kennelly, Erdal’s PhD supervisor. She said she helped Ongun and the support movement in every way she could.
“I was writing a book on democracy when I got the news of Cihan’s arrest and after learning about it, his situation gripped me on the issue of political freedom,” Kennelly said. “In a country like Canada, despite its many faults, we often take this political freedom for granted.”
Kennelly said protecting people from institutionalized injustice based on their political beliefs is an important factor in any liberal democracy.
Instead of looking back at the past, Erdal encouraged attendees to focus on ways they can support the enforcement of liberal democracy and promote social justice within their communities.
“We can’t allow ourselves to feel regret for what happened in the past because the past can’t be changed,” Erdal said. “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves either. We need to stand up for each other and fight all those who try to put us down.”
Featured image by Ali Adwan.
