Various democratic organisations and parties in Ankara have issued a joint press statement regarding the ongoing hunger strikes launched to protest the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, Hawar News Agency reports.
Under the banner “We defend peace against war, freedom against isolation”, democratic organisations held a press statement in the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s Ankara Office.
‘The demands of the prisoners are the demands of society’
“Political prisoners demand an end to isolation, which is a special method of torture that disregards national and international law, and an end to the violations they have been subjected to in prisons”, said Pakize Sinemillioğlu, the co-chair of HDP Ankara.
She reiterated that hunger striking prisoners should be medically checked regularly and called on the Turkish authorities to supply the necessary medical care to the prisoners on hunger strike, in compliance with the corresponding medical and legal protocols.
“It is unacceptable that Turkey disregards international laws in prisons”, said Sinemillioğlu. “Prisoners face numerous problems and violations in Turkey’s prisons. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lack of hygene products in the prison and prisoners are not supplied with any protective materials against the virus”.
‘Quarantine leads to isolation in prisons’
Sinemillioğlu mentioned the serious problems faced by sick prisoners. “Ill prisoners lack proper medical treatment. Whenever they need to visit a hospital, they have been locked in isolation cells under the so-called quarantine measure. The quarantine leads to heavy isolation in prisons”, she said.
‘End the crimes against humanity in Imralı’
Recalling the previous hunger strikes and the resulting loss of life, Sinemillioğlu said, “Life is the most basic, significant and valuable human right. In order not to live through the same sorrows of past experiences the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan should be lifted, and the isolation system applied in all prisons of Turkey should come to an end. We appeal to everyone to make as much effort as possible to ensure the voices of the hundreds of hunger striking political prisoners are heard”.
