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Deniz Yücels book about his detention: One does not bow to power

2019-10-08T04:50:19.821Z


A man who repeatedly brings friends and enemies to the brink of despair with his consistency: In "Agent Terrorist" Deniz Yücel works his time in prison - and provides a precise analysis of Turkey.



"The cat, they want to pick up the cat!" Sigmar Gabriel, then Foreign Minister, apparently struggled for composure on 16 February 2018, when he learned on the phone that Deniz Yücel, who had just been released from prison, drove all together with Entourage back to Istanbul - instead of to the airport, to Turkey leave as quickly as possible.

Yücel was imprisoned for a year. When he arrived at his apartment, he played a round of whiskey and recorded a video: "Just as my arrest had nothing to do with law, law and the rule of law, my release has nothing to do with it." Yücel wanted to upload the clip. Friends made sure that the statement was only published after the plane had left for Germany the Turkish airspace.

Deniz Yücel himself describes these scenes in the book "Agent Terrorist" about his imprisonment, which now appears. An impression that remains after reading is the image of a consistent man who brings friends, allies and opponents with this consequence again and again to the brink of despair. If you understand "agent terrorist" as political ethics, you can contract the 400 pages in one sentence: you do not bow to power.

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Deniz Yücel
Agent Terrorist: A story about freedom and friendship, democracy and non-democracy

Publishing company:

Kiepenheuer & Witsch

Pages:

400

Price:

EUR 22,00

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And the power in this case fired from all pipes. The accusation of the Turkish government: terror propaganda and sedition. Erdogan called Yücel media effective as an "agent terrorist" and headed, without realizing it, the book title. Among other reasons, the interview was based on Yücel's interview with the PKK leader Cemil Bayik as a Turkey correspondent for Die Welt. In fact, the conversation is critical journalism in the best sense. Yücel manages to unfold in his articles, reports and commentaries, political connections and historical backgrounds in a few pointed sentences.

For example, read his piece on the rise of Erdogan, which first appeared in the course book and was reprinted by the FAZ during the detention: a combination of analysis, involvement with simultaneous distance and linguistic precision. This clarity now determines his writing about his own situation. "Agent Terrorist" reconstructs in detail the political constellations, decisions and coincidences that led to Yücel's arrest and the unexpectedly long term of imprisonment.

Yücel soon after starting his one-year pre-trial detention in February 2017 to smuggle texts out of the cell. While still in detention, the book "We're not here for fun" appears. And he urges that the conditions of not only detention but also his release be determined. For "dirty deals" he would be "not available", he lets the federal government know. If his release was linked to commitments for German arms sales to Turkey, he would rather be imprisoned.

A precise description of the political situation

This rigor seems to have kept him going. "I've switched the combat mode to the highest level, do not worry, no consideration." Consideration maybe not, but fairness: "Agent terrorist" also documents the thanks to all who have worked for him, up to Sigmar Gabriel and Angela Merkel.

"Agent terrorist" goes far beyond his author's experience of detention, and not only because Yücel writes extensively about his fellow inmates and other imprisoned journalists. At least half way through the text turns out to be a precise description of the political situation in Turkey since the beginning of the protests in Gezi Park 2013. In addition, the self-analysis of Yücel always extends beyond the own person.

In May, Yücel made a written statement about his criminal trial that he had been "tortured for three days", "possibly on direct grounds" President Erdogans. It was not the physical violence itself - "I experienced more violence during police operations at demonstrations, during battles with neo-Nazis or simple bar fight."

But the beatings and threats of the prison guards are something else: "An organized violence aimed at violating my dignity, which should make it clear to me that I am completely at the mercy of my tormentors." Deniz Yücel was forced to bow, this plot twist retroactively colors the sovereignty and ever-flashing hilarity of his book without destroying it. The fight against any form of heteronomy appears suddenly in another light, not as heroic, but as a psychological necessity: "All my fights I denied with the aim of undoing this moment."

"Agent terrorist" is also an attempt to "leave all this behind," writes Yücel. The book gives the impression that this could have succeeded, in this case, just with the means of journalistic processing - as far as such a halt can succeed.

Hardly a political prisoner has received so much support from almost all political camps. In addition there are countless solo events, motorcade and readings, and the presence of Yücel's friends and his wife Dilek Mayatürk-Yücel on site. "I was in solitary confinement, but I was never alone," he writes. That's what this book is, and last but not least: a lesson on the power of solidarity.

Source: spiegel

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