On this date, the Izmir 4th Criminal Court of Peace approved a request from the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to ban and confiscate Gayle Tzemach Lemmon’s book “Kobani’nin Kızları” (Daughters of Kobani) published by Avesta Publishing, as well as Gültan Kışanak’s book “Kürt Siyasetinin Mor Rengi” (The Purple Color of Kurdish Politics) from Dipnot Publishing.
Mezopotamya Agency reported that the investigation prosecutor requested the ban on these two books, which were seized during a search at the home of Berna Çelik, a former İzmir Provincial Co-Chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). Berna Çelik was detained on October 6, 2023, and arrested three days later.
Earlier, on March 27, 2023, the Terrorism Crimes Investigation Bureau Prosecutor’s Office sought the ban and confiscation of the books, arguing that they contained propaganda for an illegal organization.
After reviewing the prosecutor’s request, the Izmir 4th Criminal Court of Peace agreed and ordered the books to be banned and confiscated.
It is worth noting that the Izmir 2nd Criminal Judicature of Peace had previously imposed a nationwide ban on Kışanak’s book “The Purple Color of Kurdish Politics” and ordered the seizure of distributed copies. However, this decision was later overturned upon appeal.
