ISTANBUL - IHD members who sent money to their member Hatice Onaran, who was sentenced to prison for sending money to prisoners, stated that they will continue their solidarity and struggle. 

 

Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Commission continues its campaign to send money to their member Hatice Onara, who was sentenced to prison for sending money to prisoners on the allgation of "financing the terror organization". IHD members made a statement in front of the association building before sending money to Hatice Onaran as part of the campaign to send money to prisoners. The statement was attended by many rights defenders and the press text was given by Mehmet Acettin, member of IHD Istanbul Branch Prison Commission.

 

Stating that Hatice Onaran has been struggling for the rights of prisoners, Acettin reminded that Hatice Onaran was sentenced to prison for sending money to her husband and 8 ill prisoners, and noted that Hatice Onaran has been held in Gebze Women's Closed Prison since 10 October 2024. Acettin said, "The sentence given to our colleague Hatice Onaran is against reason, conscience and law. Depositing money to prisoners and how to spend the money deposited to the prisoners' account is regulated by the 'Regulation on the Use of Personal Money of Convicts and Prisoners Taken into Custody'."

 

Acettin emphasised that Hatice Onaran, who has been struggling for years for the right to life and treatment of ill prisoners, is herself an ill prisoner today and said, "She is a 60-year-old prisoner with a 79 percent disability report and is being treated for colon cancer. We human rights defenders, who argue that solidarity with prisoners is not a crime, remind again that the basic needs of prisoners must be met by the state. We will continue our solidarity and struggle until our friend is free."

 

The statement ended with the slogans "Hatice Onaran is not alone". After the statement, money was sent to Hatice Onaran for solidarity.