Krakow's solidarity with Aslı Erdoǧan
Mayor of Krakow, Jacek Majchrowski, has sent to İstem Circiroğlu, Chargé d’Affairs of the Embassy of Turkey in Poland, an appeal for release of Aslı Erdoǧan, a Turkish writer arrested on charges of terrorist activity.
Last year, Krakow hosted Aslı Erdoǧan under ICORN programme supporting writers and journalists prosecuted in their home countries.
To express their solidarity with the writer, The Krakow Festival Bureau, the Willa Decjusza Association and the Literary Society of Krakow launched an initiative of "Petition in the Name of Freedom". It has been signed by over 3000 people including, among others, most prominent Polish writers, artists and politicians associated wih Krakow. The list of signatories is still open and every day new signatures from Krakow, Poland and the World are added to it.
In his letter, Prof. Jacek Majchrowski quoted after the Nobel winner, Czesław Miłosz, that it is the artist's basic obligation to show solidarity with the repression victims , regardless of the consequences. He stressed that as the Mayor of Krakow - the city of freedom and creativity, the UNESCO city of literature and a member of the ICORN network supporting writers prosecuted in their countries although they do not organize military coups but stand up for human rights and democracy - he shows full solidarity with such attitude. The Mayor's appeal along with the "Petition in the Name of Freedom" have been sent to the Turkish Embassy and asked to be forwarded to the competent authorities of this country.
Jacek Majchrowski has also sent a letter to Mieczysław Cieniuch, the Polish Ambassador in Turkey, asking him for help in freeing the Turkish writer and for sending information about her present health condition and chances of release.
