The hunger strike launched by political prisoners in Turkey to protest against the isolation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and the violations of rights in prisons reached its 62nd day.
The 13th group of prisoners began to stage their hunger strike on the 61st day of action in prisons.
As the hunger strike launched in Makhnour Camp in Iraqi Kurdistan to support the hunger strike is on its 41st day, another hunger strike of support that was launched in Lavrio Camp in Greece and reached its 23rd day.
Violations in prisons
Violations of rights continue in prisons of Turkey. Garibe Gezer spoke about the violations they were subjected to in prisons during her phone call with her family. Gezer said she was being held in a solitary confinement.
Another prisoner Hanifi Kaçar has been held in Manisa T type prison for 17 years. His wife Adalet Kaçar said she has not been able to visit her husband for two years.
The strike began on 27 November
Prisoners in Turkey announced the beginning of their hunger strike via the weekly phone calls they made with their families on 27 November. Former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Çağlar Demirel, who is currently imprisoned in the Kocaeli Kandıra F-type high security prison, launched the hunger strike.
Later, imprisoned former Democratic Regions Party (DBP) member Sebahat Tuncel also decided to participate in the hunger strike, and applied to be transferred to the İmralı prison island complex where Abdullah Öcalan is being held.
The strike has now spread across 107 prisons in Turkey.