The hunger strike launched by 10 detainees in Urfa No. 1 T Type Closed Prison against the violations of their rights continues on its 9th day. It was learned that 10 more prisoners joined the strike as of Monday.

The Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), Human Rights Association (İHD), Urfa Bar Association, Urfa Medical Chamber, and Health and Social Service Workers' Union (SES) formed a committee to deal with the ongoing hunger strike. On 13 August, the committee wanted to meet with the prison director about the problems experienced by prisoners. He refused to meet with the delegation, which met with the Urfa Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor to discuss the problems and the hunger strike on Monday. The Deputy Prosecutor, to whom the demands of the detainees were conveyed, said that he was aware of the problems and that they were working to resolve them as soon as possible. The delegation will visit the prisoners in the coming days.

Background

The hunger strikers listed their complaints as follows:

“* We are not referred to the hospital and to external treatment,

* Arbitrary delays in release up to 6 months,

* No additional phone calls nor open visits during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha,

* Blocking letters,

* No to cell changes,

* Stop to the administration practice of confiscating the air conditioners and propellers that we had previously sold in the canteen and forcing us to buy new ones,

* Forcing us to bring hot drinks to visitors who come to the open visit (water, coke and fruit juice are not put in the fridge under seasonal conditions)”