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Emine Binici, whose two imprisoned sons are on hunger strike, spoke to the Mesopotamia Agency about the oppression she and her family have suffered and the political demands of her children.
An indefinite, rotating hunger strike was launched on 27 November to demand an end to the isolation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and the increasing rights violations in prisons. The hunger strike has now reached its 64th day.
Emine Binici, a mother of ten, has witnessed the imprisonment of most of her children. Nine have been jailed at some point and now two of her sons are on hunger strikes in two different prisons.
Her son Mehmet Binici is imprisoned in the Urfa T-type Closed Prison and the other son, İbrahim Binici, is imprisoned in the Sincan F-type Closed Prison, located in Ankara.
Mother suffers heart atttack during raid on her home
Emine Binici said that her home was raided by soldiers and police countless times and that the whole family was harassed.
During one raid she had a heart attack while her children were being detained. Following the incident, she spent four days in intensive care. “Our door was broken in each raid and one of my children was detained”, she said. “My life was spent visiting my children in different prisons. There is no prison I haven’t set foot in. I will never forget the torture I have been through”, she said.
‘Accept the demands, otherwise the hunger strikes won’t end’
“Accept the demands of our children, lift the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and let our children live”, said Binici, appealing to Turkish authorities.
She said that she has not been able to see her son Mehmet, who has been imprisoned for four years. “The last time I spoke to him was on the phone. He told me that they are on a hunger strike and that they would not end the strike until the isolation is lifted. My son has chronic asthma. I am worried about him. During this pandemic period, the risk is increased. Their demands should be met”.
She concluded with a call for unity in support of the protesting prisoners. “As mothers and as Kurds, let us be the voice of the prisoners. Let us be the voice for Öcalan’s freedom so that young people do not die and peace can be achieved”.
