The isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues unabated for the last 22 years. The hunger strike launched by the prisoners demanding an end to this isolation on November 27, continues on its 75th day. One of the prisoners who are currently on hunger strike is Emre Can Demir, who is being held in Eskişehir Type H Closed Prison. Demir was arrested on December 8, 2016 and sentenced aggravated life in prison by 50 times. Currently on hunger strike demanding their demands to be met, Demir also participated in the hunger strike launched by Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven back in November 8, 2018 for 106 days. Demir was transferred from Antalya Type L Prison to Eskişehir Type H Prison after the hunger strike without notifying his family. 

 

Underlining that they will support the hunger strike of their children no matter what, Demir's father Hasan Demir said the demands must be met as soon as possible.

 

'HE WAS TORTURED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME'

 

Stating that they were both detained during a raid on their home in İstanbul, father Demir said that they were both talen to Antalya and they were tortured there for a month. Father Demir said: "They tied me up and tortured my son in front of me. I was held in Antalya Type L Prison for a month. I was released after 4 months on probation. My son was lynched by the police and the gendermerie at the first hearing in front of the lawyers and the judge because his defense was political. He was sentenced to aggravated life in prison by 50 times hastily."

 

'HE WAS EXILED WITHOUT LETTING US KNOW HE WAS TRANSFERRED ELSEWHERE'

 

Stating that his son was on hunger strike for 106 days back 2018 and him and 3 of his friends were taken to Intensive Care Unit afterwards, Demir said: "He was 35 kilos. His brother went to the prison for an open visit. The guards told that there was no such prisoner in that prison. They exiled him without letting us know he was transferred elsewhere. We applied to relevant authorities and found out after a while that he was transferred to Eskişehir Type H Closed Prison."

 

'ISOLATION WITHIN ISOLATION'

 

Underlining that visits to İmralı were banned again after that period, Demir said his son is now back on hunger strike demanding an end to isolation. Stating that the pressure on prisoners has an effect on them too, Demir said: "They will go on a non-rotating indefinite hunger strike again if their demands are not met. Violations of rights are always on the agenda in prisons. He can't recieve our letters, he can't recieve books. There is isolation within isolation in prisons. They are sending our children to prisons so far away from their hometown. Most of the families can't visit their children because of financial difficulties or health issues related to poverty or age. They are torturing the families too."

 

'THERE IS A SCREAM IN THE PRISONS'

 

Calling for an end of the continued isolation, Demir said: "The government is not only doing wrong by democrats, Kurds or revolutionaries. Their voters are suffering from hunger as well. Ensure visits and phonecalls in İmralı. End the anti-democratic practices. You slaughtered Kurds back in 90's. It didn't work. It won't work. We will tell everyone about the persecution of the state even if our children die. We never forgot those things. Don't continue on this path. Don't let our children die. We support the resistance of our children. There is a scream coming from the prisons. Let the Ministry of Justice, the Presidency, the Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights, all institutions and organizations, democratic mass organizations hear this scream."