Metin Kılıç, who has been detained in Kürkçüler F-Type Prison in Turkey’s southern province of Adana, launched a hunger strike on 30 December 2020 with a request to be transferred to a prison nearer to Mardin (Mêrdin), where his family lives.

Metin Kılıç suffers from epilepsy, and is now on a hunger strike demanding to be transferred to Mardin Prison, saying, “I will either make my voice heard or die within the 15-day period.”

Kılıç has been in prison for 11 years and he has not been able to see his family for 5 years, Mesopotamia Agency reports.

He stated that his family living in Mardin are not able to travel to another city and so he has not been able to see his family in any family visits in the last five years. Kılıç explained that his mother is 90 years old and his father is 85 years old and that both are physically disabled. He saw his daughter only twice during these five years.

Kılıç sent a letter to the Human Rights Association (İHD) Adana Branch, regarding the situation in prison and his action.

He wrote a letter requesting a referral to the Ministry of Justice in order to be visited by his family. Kılıç said that his applications to be transferred to a prison in Mardin have been constantly rejected by the authorities.

“After everything, I have no choice, I launched a hunger strike. I also refuse to take my medications. During this 15-day period, I will either make my voice heard or die,” he said.