The hunger strike launched by political prisoners in Turkey – to protest against the prison isolation conditions that have been imposed on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and human rights violations that are taking place in the country’s prisons – has reached its 40th day.
Prisoners launched the hunger strike on 27 November. Öcalan has been imprisoned in İmralı High Security Prison for 21 years. The eighth group of prisoners are continuing the rotating-indefinite hunger strike.
19th day of hunger strike in Makhmour Camp
Another hunger strike was launched on 18 December by women in Makhmour Camp which is located in Iraqi Kurdistan. The hunger strike action, staged in Makhmour Martyr’s Families Association’s building, is into its 19th day.
The demands of prisoners
Libertarian Lawyers Association (ÖHD) Şanlıurfa (Riha) Branch chair Ali Aslan said that the prisoners’ demand to “remove the prison isolation” conditions was not only for a single person, but was also a demand that the implementation of prison practices for all prisoners should be undertaken in accordance with the law. He said that this demand could be met immediately.
Aslan drew attention to the fact that oppression and isolation of prisoners had increased since the beginning of the pandemic. He pointed out that even books and newspapers were not given to prisoners and he noted that prisoners in Şanlıurfa Prison who needed urgent medical treatment were not being taken to hospital. Aslan drew attention to the demands of prisoners and stated that the questionable isolation practices that were evident in prisons alongside human rights violations in prisons should be stopped.
