The indefinite and rotating hunger strikes demanding an end to the isolation against Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and an end to the violations of rights in prisons are on their 220th day.

Istanbul Chamber of Physicians, who follows the hunger strikes closely and emphasized that he is worried about the current situation, Doctor Murat Ekmez spoke to ANF.

Reminding that political prisoners have been on hunger strike for a long time, Ekmez stated that unfortunately their voices are not heard enough in the public opinion of Turkey and the world. Underlining that prisons are generally invisible places, Ekmez added that thousands of people are trying to make their voices heard with the hunger strike.

Pointing out that the hunger strikes continue under the difficult conditions of the coronavirus epidemic, Ekmez noted that while the issue is so serious, politicians, bar associations and institutions unfortunately remain insensitive to it. The Hunger Strikes Monitoring Committees are concerned about this situation, said Ekmez, adding that they are trying to get through this process without permanent damage to prisoners. Ekmez stated that they are trying to put pressure on the Ministry of Justice and the state to stop imposing on prisoners such heavy isolation, which is a method of torture.

Reminding that those on hunger strike today are prisoners who went on hunger strike with the same demand before, Ekmez said: “The prisoners went on hunger strike again less than two years after their bodies recovered from another fast. At that time, over 3,000 prisoners went on an unlimited hunger strike. Those prisoners are now on hunger strike again. Moreover, most of the prisoners have been in prison for a long time. For this reason, nutritional standards are already insufficient. They are kept in bad condition. Even their access to the open air and sun is limited. If we add to this the coronavirus epidemic, isolation on prisoners has become even harder.”

Ekmez said: “We are concerned about the lives of prisoners. During this pandemic, many people lost their lives in prisons because health units could not be reached. Unfortunately, even on this issue, I can say that the Ministry of Justice does not share any satisfactory information with the public. For this reason, everyone should break this wall surrounding prisons and wage a common struggle against isolation.”

Ekmez reminded that the special isolation system imposed in Imrali is unlike any other in the world and said: “It is clear that this isolation is an attack, a torture aimed at destroying the will of an individual. But isolation is not just imposed on Imrali, it is also imposed on prisoners sentenced to life in different prisons. Many prisoners have become victims of this isolation."

Noting that the fact that people have to go on hunger strikes again and again in prisons shows how much of a pressure isolation has become, Ekmez reminded that people go on hunger strikes against isolation, not demanding water or food, even though they cannot be fed well in prisons. Ekmez emphasized that freedom is as important as water and air for humanity and renewed his call for sensitivity.