ANKARA – Sharing the information that the violations of rights of the prisoners continue in prisons, ÖHD member Attorney Kenan Maçoğlu called for the legitimate and justified demands of the prisoners to be met immediately. 

 

The hunger strike initiated by political prisoners demanding an end to the isolation against imprisoned PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali Prison and the increasing violations of rights in prisons is on day 41. Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Ankara Branch Prisons Commission conducted interviews with prisoners in the Central Anatolia Region in 14 prisons.

 

131 PRISONERS IN 8 PRISONS

 

The 8th groups took over the hunger strike in prisons. Groups of two are on hunger strike in Eskişehir, Sincan Women's, Kayseri Women's and Karabük Prisons, groups of 3 in Kayseri No 1 Type T and Kırıkkale Prisons are on hunger strike. 131 prisoners in 8 prisons participated in the hunger strikes so far.

 

Attorney Kenan Maçoğlu from the prisons comission told about the violations of rights in prisons.

 

Explaining that the violations of rights increased during the pandemic, Maçoğlu told that wards are being raided a few times a month despite the pandemic.

 

Pointing out that Yeni Yaşam Newspaper and newspapers like Evrensel and Birgün aren't given to the prisoners, Maçoğlu said that the radios confiscated during the hunger strikes in 2019 are still not returned to the prisoners. Att. Maçoğlu said: "Only the pro-government TV channels are allowed in the prisons. The social activities are totally banned. Contact visits with families aren't allowed."

 

Underlining that access to health care is also problematic, Maçoğlu said: "There are restirctions on non contact visits as well on grounds of disciplinary punishments. 3 prisoners who resisted standing up during count are held in solitary confinement in Kırşehir Prison, including HDP Kırşehir former Provincial Co-chair Attorney Saim Özdemir. Prisoners who resist strip search in Sincan No 1 Type F Prison are being tortured. Execution judges uphold the disciplinary punishments without making an inquiry."

 

'MEET THE DEMANDS'

 

Stating that the hunger strikers told that the hunger strike will continue until their demands are met, Maçoğlu said: "There was a hunger strike against isolation back in 2019. Even though the ministry allowed the families and the attorneys to go to İmralı after the hunger strike, they banned visits since August 2019. The families of the prisoners in İmralı were able to visit İmralı on March 3, 2020 after a fire broke out in the İmralı Island.The isolation is getting deeper in other prisons as well. The legitimate and justified demands of the prisoners must be met immediately before the rotating hunger strike turns into non-rotating hunger strike."

 

Maçoğlu also noted that he sent a petition to both the prison administrations and the Ministry of Justice demanding that the prisoners on hunger strike be transferred to Imrali Prison.

 

MA / Berivan Altan