Kurdish supporters have gathered to demand the release of Mehmet Çelik, a Kurdish political refugee and father of two, who is currently held at the Foreigners' Centre in the Petrou Ralli area of Athens, protesting his detention without grounds.

The protesters carried a banner that read "Freedom for Mehmet Çelik," and chanted slogans in support of Çelik. In response, detainees inside the centre waved and raised victory signs from the windows. During the protest, Çelik’s message, shared through his lawyer, was read aloud in both English and Turkish.

I was victimized for 26 months without any reason

In his message, Çelik explained that he and his family, who are from Amed, were subjected to the oppression, torture and massacres carried out by Turkish fascism against Kurds.

Çelik wrote that their house was burned down in 1993 and their family was forcibly displaced from their village. One of his siblings was murdered on September 15, 2015, and another, who was studying at university, was arrested and sentenced to 26 years in prison. The refugee added that the state threatened to force them into being spies, they arrested and tortured them, and that he had to go abroad in 2021 because there was no security of life in his country.

Çelik wrote: "While going abroad, the boat broke down in international waters. A fuel boat passing by rescued all the passengers and delivered us to the Crete-Chania police station. The police arrested me on suspicion of helping the captains just because I had a Turkish ID. I was detained for 26 months despite nobody giving any negative statements about me. On December 7, 2023, I was acquitted in court. It was proven that I was innocent. Despite this, I was victimized for 26 months. On December 8, 2023, I was detained at the Chania police station because I did not have documents. I stayed at the Chania police station for a total of 75 days. Then I was brought to the Athens Aldagapon branch. I was held in Aldagapon for 55 days and then taken to the Mandaleza camp. I was held in the camp from April 16, 2024, to October 3, 2024. Since October 4, 2024, I have been held again at the Athens Aldagapon branch."

Not a precautionary measure but a punishment

Mehmet Çelik wrote that he is in detention for no reason, and explained the reason for going on hunger strike: "My detention has gone beyond being a precautionary measure for the Greek police and has turned into a punishment. I have been victimized because I have been held in prison and a police station for 3 years without a reason. I no longer have the financial means to support my family and children. Therefore, my family is also victimized. In order for my victimization to end as soon as possible, I went on an indefinite hunger strike on October 30, 2024. I will continue my action until my demand is met."