Poet beaten in prison - Aron Atabek

PEN International/CampaignKazakhstan (July 16, 2014):

In December 2012 (whilst in prison on other charges), Atabek was sentenced to two years’ solitary confinement in a maximum security jail in Arkalyk- 1,600km away from his family – for writing The Heart of Eurasia, a book that fiercely criticised President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In March 2014, Atabek was moved to a prison in Pavlodar (1,400km from his family). ---



"PEN International is deeply concerned at reports that the imprisoned poet Aron Atabek – who is in ill health – has been tortured or otherwise ill-treated by prison guards.

According to the poet’s son, Atabek has suffered regular beatings on the head and neck during his incarceration in Pavlodar prison. There is an absolute prohibition on the use of torture or other ill-treatment under international law. PEN International calls on the Kazakh authorities to protect Aron Atabek from all forms of torture or other ill-treatment, to investigate the reports that he has been beaten while in detention, to bring to justice anyone suspected of abuses, and to provide him with appropriate medical care for his ailments." 


Campaign Kazakhstan (read full text):
http://campaignkazakhstan.org/index.php/2014/07/16/pen-internationals-call-to-action-poet-beaten-in-prison/


Picture: CampaignKazakhstan



From a poem by Aron Atabek:

"Russia is my Mother; my Father is Kazakhstan.
A childhood on the Volga, I grew up in Almaty
to kick open the doors to the Throne Room of those in power,
with a strong belief in my rights and in righteousness."


Earlier on my blog:
http://minkristnasamhllsblogg.blogspot.fi/2013/01/honor-and-dignity.html