Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch President Gülseren Yoleri, Istanbul Medical Chamber (ITO) member Murat Ekmez, Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) Istanbul Representative Ümit Efe, Health Workers Union (SES) President of the Anatolian Branch Erdal Güzel from the Hunger Strike Monitoring Committee visited the prisoners on hunger strike in Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison.

The police, who prevented the Delegation to read a press statement outside prison, said the ban was issued by the Istanbul Governor Office but did not show any order.

Despite the ban, the Delegation informed journalists about their meeting with the hunger strike activists. Murat Ekmez, from ITO, said that they made this visit following a request from prisoner on hunger strike in Bakırköy Prison.

The Monitoring Delegation said that despite their request to meet with Bakırköy Prison Director to the Ministry of Justice they did not meet with him.

Gülseren Yoleri, a lawyer for the Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD), stated that 6 political prisoners were on hunger strike in Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison and that they could meet 4 of them.

The prisoners said that the prison administration's approach to hunger strikes in Bakırköy is not generally negative. They provide the necessary fluids and said that there are no problems with the use of vitamins. There was only a problem with the doctor control, that was not done on a daily basis.

Hunger striker Esma Başkale needs to be seen by a doctor

“We have learned - said Yoleri - that the prisoner Esma Başkale, who has been on hunger strike for 64 days, is suffering from high blood pressure and excessive weight loss. Some measures should be taken but the doctor has not seen the activist.”

We will monitor the hunger strike

Visits to the hunger strikers will not be limited to Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison alone, said Yoleri adding that they will visit all prisons in the Marmara Region.

The names of the political prisoners who are on hunger strike in Bakırköy Women's Prison are as follows: Belgin Kanat, Zozan Kutun, Gurbet Ektiren, Nesrin Akgöz, Esma Başkale, Reyhan Coşmuşlu.

The first group has been on hunger strike for 64 days while the second for 35.