In this powerful and emotional live episode of This is Democracy, we sit down with Turkish-Kurdish journalist and poet Nedim Türfent to hear his story of resistance, survival, and the enduring power of words. Arrested in 2016 after documenting human rights abuses by Turkish forces against Kurdish civilians, Nedim spent nearly seven years in prison—most of it in solitary confinement—without ever being convicted with credible evidence. His "crime" was exposing truth.
Nedim recounts the brutality he endured: being threatened, tortured, denied legal due process, and ultimately sentenced through coerced testimony. But this is also a story of resilience. While locked in an isolated cell, Nedim turned to poetry—not just as expression, but as survival. His verses, now translated into over 20 languages, became vessels of hope and solidarity across borders.
During our conversation, Nedim reads his poems aloud, each line a testament to the human capacity to create light amid darkness. He reminds us that freedom of expression is not just a right—it’s a lifeline. His message is clear: authoritarian regimes fear words because words carry truth. And truth builds bridges.
Nedim’s story is not only about his own experience. It’s a call to defend all those imprisoned, exiled, or silenced for speaking out. He asks us to bear witness, raise awareness, and support international efforts to protect free expression and press freedom. Democracy, he reminds us, lives or dies by our willingness to stand together for those whose voices are at risk
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