Prisoner relatives started a campaign to send letters and cards to Imralı Prison to draw attention and protest the isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş. The campaign started by families will last until 30 December. The families held a press conference to present the campaign at the Rezan (Bağlar) District Organization building of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).

MED Prisoner and Convict Families Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations (MED TUHAD-FED), DEM Party provincial and district organizations, Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Assistance, Solidarity, Unity and Culture Association with Families Who Lost Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYA-DER) attended the press conference together with members of the Peace Mothers Council.

'Everyone should join the campaign'

MED TUHAD-FED co-chair Kerem Canpolat exposed thesevere isolation in the country. Referring to the hunger strikes launched in prisons on 27 November and the Vigil for Justice initiated by the relatives of prisoners, Canpolat said: "Today, as the families of prisoners and convicts, we are starting a new campaign. This campaign will continue until 30 December. Cards and letters will be sent to Mr. Abdullah Öcalan and the other prisoners in Imrali. With this campaign, we want to draw the attention of the people in Turkey and Kurdistan to isolation. Because the isolation prevents the Kurdish question to be solved. Therefore, everyone should send letters and cards to Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, even if it is just to say a few words. Help break the isolation by sending letters and cards."

Stating that the solution to the economic crisis and the way to peace is through breaking the isolation, Canpolat added that the silence surrounding isolation means the deaths of the children of the Kurdish people, especially in prisons. "Everyone should raise their voice against isolation," said Canpolat, adding: "We expect mothers and young people to join the card and letter campaign. The Kurdish people and our families should not remain silent about this isolation."

Those who attended the press conference wrote letters and cards and posted them to Imralı F Type High Security Closed Prison.