Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ağrı Provincial Assembly member Mehmet Birdal was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Iran in late August after getting arrested during a visit for business purposes. Maku Criminal Court sentenced Birdal for "being a member of the PKK and the PJAK", "aiding the PKK", "cooperating with enemy groups", "conducting propaganda for a terrorist organization" and "posing a threat to national security".

In a letter to his family, Birdal, jailed in Maku Prison, said that he had started a death fast by sewing his lips in protest at the violation of his rights.

The Birdal family calls for public awareness and action for the release of the Kurdish politician, whose letter reads as follows:

“After being detained in Iran, I was remanded in custody and sent to prison following an intelligence interrogation that lasted for 49 days. After 6 months of detention, I was sentenced to 16 years in prison in a show trial even without being brought before a judge or prosecutor. Since I received 4 different sentences on 4 different charges, the Iranian court decided for the execution of only one of them according to Iranian laws, and that is, 4 years. During this 15-month period, I was exiled to Urmia, Negeê and Maku prisons due to my reaction to various rights violations. I am currently staying in Maku Prison. I appealed to a higher court and my sentence was reduced by 1/6 to 3 years and 4 months. As per law, I was granted the right to be released as 'azadi meşrud' (prisoner who served one third of a sentence). However, my application was arbitrarily rejected. Furthermore, I have received no treatment for the health problems I have experienced during this period of time.

My family is not allowed to visit me, and my rights are violated. Since all my appeals against the problems and violations of rights I have faced have remained unanswered, I announce going on a death fast by sewing my lips and I shall not end it until my 'Azadî Meşrud' right is granted.”