JOURNALISTS in Turkey yesterday launched a solidarity campaign in support of Huseyin Aykol, one of the jailed editors-in-chief of the closed Ozgur Gundem (Free Agenda) newspaper, who celebrates his birthday on Sunday.

The veteran journalist has more than 40 years’ experience in the media, with over 30 years as an editor and columnist in the Kurdish press.

He was arrested and sentenced to almost four years in prison for “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation” at Ozgur Gundem after a police raid in July. He is being held in the notorious Sincan F-type prison in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Ozgur Gundem, which has been subject to severe attacks from the Turkish state, was closed along with hundreds of other opposition media outlets by presidential decree after the failed coup attempt of 2016.

Trials have been held for 56 journalists who acted as Ozgur Gundem’s editor-in-chief for the day during a solidarity campaign, with many receiving prison sentences on trumped-up terrorism charges.

Mr Aykol is the only journalist to systematically publicise the violations of rights in Turkish prisons via his “Inside” column in the Yeni Yasam (New Life) newspaper.

He has 63 lawsuits filed against him. Some of the cases are pending before the appeal court.

On Sunday he celebrates his 64th birthday and supporters of Mr Aykol have started a campaign to send him cards and books.

Turkey remains the world’s biggest jailer of journalists with a third of the world’s total.

Cards and books campaign instructions:

Campaigners said those who wish to send books and cards to Mr Aykol in prison must be aware of the following:

* Make sure that no notes are written inside the book and that no drawings or markings are made.
 
* Book-senders must write a separate card  if they wish to send a message to Mr Aykol.
 
* Since there is a limit on books in prisons, it is important to emphasise that the book is a birthday present. Write: “Bu bir dogum gunu hediyesidir” on the package to indicate this.
 
* The book and the card should be mailed at the same time.
 
Address:
 
Mr Aykol’s prison address is as follows: Huseyin Aykol, Sincan 2 Nolu F Tipi Kapali Cezaevi, C4-78, Sincan-ANKARA