RIHA- ÖHD member Ayşe Şehirban Demirel, who visited the prisons in Riha, stated that the prisoners on hunger strike demanding "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan" are determined in their actions.

 

There has been no news from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in absolute isolation in İmralı Type F High Security Prison, for 34 months. While reactions continue with the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign launched internationally on October 10, 2023 against the absolute isolation in Imrali, the hunger strike in prisons has entered its 36th day. The authorities are being reckless against the actions of prisoners in prisons, where human rights violations and ill-treatment are increasing. 

 

Visiting the prisons in Riha, Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) Headquarters Manager Ayşe Şehirban Demirel spoke about the situation of the prisoners on hunger strike.

 

'THE PRISONERS ARE DETERMINED IN THEIR ACTIONS'

 

Stating that the prisoners are waiting for concrete steps to be taken regarding their demands, Demirel said: "During our visits to prisons, we detected the existing isolation situation with many violations of rights. The prisoners on hunger strike were subjected to ill-treatment. The prison administration has initiated disciplinary investigations against the prisoners on hunger strike. As a result of these investigations, family visits are prevented and their right to participate in events is usurped. The objection against this remains inconclusive. They said that the letters they wrote to non-governmental organizations regarding their hunger strike demands were not sent. Likewise, they stated that approaches that go beyond ill-treatment continue. However, they also stated that they were insistent on their demands against this and that they were persistent in their actions against the administration that tried to dissuade them. They also stated that they sent a letter to Mr. Abdullah Öcalan and that their demands for transfer to İmralı Island continued at regular intervals.”

 

'THE NEEDS ARE NOT MEET'

 

Stating that the necessary vitamins and food are not given to the prisoners on hunger strike by the administration, Demirel said: "Prisoners on hunger strike are not given the five glasses of liquid they need to drink throughout the day. Only salt, sugar and lemon are given. In any case, they are subjected to strip searches and ill-treatment by the gendarmerie during transfer to the hospital. They refuse to go to the hospital for reasons such as being examined in handcuffs and being held waiting for hours."

 

'SOCIAL STRUGGLE IS A MUST' 

 

Underlining that the ongoing absolute isolation of Abdullah Öcalan has caused many human rights violations and unlawfulness, Demirel said: “We can say that the reason for the existing unlawfulness is isolation. Because when Mr. Öcalan was brought to Turkey in 1999, a special prison was built for him on İmralı Island. There is no example of this in the world. An attempt was made to create a system and laboratory there. The protective rights of every prisoner in national and international law were suspended there. However, the seriousness of this was not perceived by the social opposition. There were no objections to this because it was not perceived. Mr. Öcalan is a political actor and public leader. However, this situation was ignored by the Turkish opposition. The decisions against Mr. Öcalan have not been implemented for a long time and the situation has brought about other unlawfulness in the country. Finally, the Can Atalay decision is a result of this. Other opposition members of society need to see this and react accordingly. Because all segments of society need to fight together against the law of exception applied to the Kurds. Otherwise, a process in which we discuss more unlawfulness and rights violations will emerge.”