Human Rights Association (IHD) Ankara Branch President Fatin Kanat spoke to ANF about the ongoing hunger strikes in prisons demanding the end of isolation in Imrali.

Kanat said that the hunger strikes, on the 127th day, have reached a critical period and added that the AKP-MHP government does not comply with the laws and conventions to which it is a party.

The government does not look for a solution

Kanat said: "There are human rights violations in many countries. But in Turkey the war in the Middle East makes violations much heavier. In many countries of the world hunger strikes are dealt in different ways, generally the demands of the hunger strikers are listened to. But Turkey is violation even its own laws. The hunger strikes currently going on in Turkey are entering a critical phase as they have been going on for 127 days.”

Pointing out that the government appears to have no intention to work for a solution, Kanat noted: "The first target of the hunger strike are the arbitrary practices carried out in Imralı. The sanction and isolation imposed on Mr. Öcalan and other prisoners in Imralı do not have any legal justification. In parallel with the demands on Imrali, the hunger strikes target the severe violations of rights carried out in all other prisons. We have around 1,605 sick prisoners and we are constantly trying to monitor and follow them. Generally, the state of the country is not good but the state of prisons is deplorable. Especially after the Dolmabahçe Agreement, the State appears to have no intention to work for a solution of the Kurdish question, but the worse is that it is not even comply and respect neither its own laws not the international laws and conventions it has signed.”

Reactions in Europe

Kanat said that Europe has a hypocritical stance when it comes to human rights. "Europe has an understanding and indulging attitude towards Turkey because of its interest in keeping refugees away from its borders. We are deeply worried with this approach. We, human rights defenders, are ashamed of humanity."

Kanat added: “We say to the state to abide its own laws, give up the practices and violations of human rights as soon as possible and warn institutions, executives and employees who make mistakes in this regard. The way is simple; Ending the isolation imposed in Imrali and abandoning this policy of repression. This is the most logical solution for hunger strikes. We do not find hunger strikes right because they pose a risk to the life of those carrying them out, but we respect their will and their struggle. We continue to do our best to create awareness among the public opinion and to achieve a positive result "

Describing the Kurdish issue as a key issue, Kanat said: “The main issue is clearly the Kurdish issue. Unless it is solved, the right steps are taken, the refugee problem, the human rights problem and the democracy problem cannot be solved. These problems are all connected and that's why the economy is hitting the bottom. The coronavirus epidemic process is used as an instrument for the state's policies to increase human rights violations. We won’t give up fighting against this and for peace, democracy and human rights to prevail.”