Midnight Express: Billy Hayes' Turkish Prison Ordeal

"Midnight Express" is Billy Hayes' raw and unforgettable account of a young American who, in 1970, attempted to smuggle two kilos of hash out of Turkey. The 23-year-old was arrested at Istanbul's airport and sentenced to four years in prison — a sentence later increased to 30 years.

The book chronicles Hayes' desperate fight for survival in the notorious Sağmalcılar prison and later at Imrali prison. With brutal honesty, he describes the inhumane conditions, violence from both fellow inmates and guards, and the psychological breakdown he suffered during his confinement.

The title "Midnight Express" refers to the prisoners' slang for escape — taking the "midnight express" out of Turkey. In 1975, after five years behind bars, Hayes managed to escape to Greece and eventually made his way back home to the United States.

Published in 1977, the book became the basis for Alan Parker's Oscar-winning 1978 film. Hayes' story became a cautionary symbol of the era's harsh drug laws and the extreme consequences of youthful recklessness. The book stands as a powerful testament to human endurance under extreme circumstances.