ABSTRACT

Even if we were not hanged immediately or beaten to death, we could not hope to remain alive long under the existing conditions in that prison at Diarbakir. Within one week I became ill and thought this might be the end for me, but fortunately my condition proved not to be serious, and I recovered in a few days. One morning the sergeant-major came into our barn to take a few prisoners out to the yard for a work detail. Some bribed him to avoid being taken out; I asked to be taken out. The man was amazed. But this was a real opportunity for me. When I went out, my God! What clean, fresh air there was! I worked in the yard until evening, enjoying every minute. The soldier guarding me advised, “Sir, sit down occasionally, but when you see the sergeant, work fast.” When I returned into the prison that evening, I felt that the color had returned to my cheeks.