The recently established Aysel Tuğluk and Freedom for ill Prisoners Platform held a press conference at the Izmir branch of the Education and Science Workers' Union (EĞİTİM-SEN) to call for a joint struggle against rights violations in prisons. Meltem Işık read the press text on behalf of the platform.

'As the silence continues, Aysel's time is running out'

Stating that torture and human rights violations in prisons, embodied in the person of Aysel Tuğluk, have caused deep wounds in the conscience of society, Meltem said that “for Aysel Tuğluk, who has forgotten why she is even in prison, campaigns have been organized for some time now, and the government has been called to release her given the urgency of the situation. However, as the silence continues, Aysel's time is running out. Our history of struggle for human rights shows that all kinds of problems in prisons are solved much more permanently and quickly when there is support from outside. The louder our noise, the better our chances of reaching beyond the prison walls. We need to raise our voices together so that all ill prisoners, beginning from Aysel Tuğluk, can be released and receive treatment.”

The purpose of the platform they established is to “continue with organization and stop deaths,” Meltem said, adding: “We want to widen our line of struggle and solidarity, from street protests to social media campaigns. We invite everyone to join the platform."

Meltem called on people to join the online meeting they planned to hold tomorrow, 11 February at 8 pm (local time).