Journalist Gökçer Tahincioğlu’s book banned in Van prison over ‘terror propaganda’

A book by journalist Gökçer Tahincioğlu has been banned at a prison in the eastern province of Van on accusations that it constituted “terror propaganda,” joining a raft of books and magazines reportedly not allowed by the prison's management.

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Journalist Gökçer Tahincioğlu’s book “Cherry Tree” (Kiraz Ağacı) has been banned at a prison in the eastern province of Van on accusations that it constituted “terror propaganda,” according to reporting by daily Evrensel.

An inmate at the Van High Security Prison, Talat Şanlı said in a letter to Evrensel that many books were not allowed in the prison over various reasons.

He said Tahincioğlu’s book was the latest book to be banned.

He added that inmates were also banned from speaking with each other due to what the prison management said were COVID-19 restrictions.

Inmates would normally be allowed 10-hour chats weekly with each other.

Two inmates, Sibel Bolaç and Gökhan Yıldırım, are on a hunger strike demanding an end to the ban on books, magazines and weekly chats, he added. 

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