Several non-governmental organizations in Ankara held a press conference on the hunger strike of political prisoners who protest against the isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, which has been going on for 64 days.

A banner "We promote peace against war, freedom against isolation" was hung in the meeting hall of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara Provincial Organization.

Representatives of Alınteri, Democratic Alevi Association (DAD) Revolutionary Party, Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Peoples 'Democratic Congress (HDK), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Partisan, Socialist Assemblies Federation (SMF), Socialist Re-establishment Party (SYKP), Kaldıraç attended the meeting.

'DEMANDS OF THE SOCIETY AND THE PRISONERS ARE SAME'

HDP Ankara provincial branch co-chair Pakize Sinemillioğlu stated; “Political prisoners demand the abolition of the isolation, which is a method of torture that is against both domestic law and international agreements, and an end to the violations of rights and ill-treatment in prisons and the attacks against the Kurdish people”.

Remarking that the isolation commonly practiced in Turkey’s prisons is a crime against humanity, Sinemillioğlu underlined that the isolation is against international conventions. She continued: "Turkey’s disregard of the international laws in prisons is unacceptable. Prisoners face many violations in prisons. Despite the Covid-19 epidemic, cleaning materials are not distributed, the treatment of sick prisoners is disrupted, and those who are referred to other jails are isolated under the pretext of quarantine.”

Stressing that the demands of the prisoners concerning the violations they have experienced in prisons are the demands of the democratic society, Sinemillioğlu said, “We remind that political prisoners on hunger strike must have regular health checks and medical care, and their nutritional needs must be met in accordance with the protocols”.

'END THE CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY IMMEDIATELY'

Recalling what happened in prisons in the past, Sinemillioğlu continued: “Expressing once again that life is the most important value and the right to life is the most fundamental right, we urge the government to put an end to arbitrary practices in prisons as soon as possible, to end all violations of rights and to take concrete steps for the elimination of the isolation, which is a crime against humanity, in all prisons in Turkey. We also urge the democratic public to be sensitive to the demands of the political prisoners."