Demonstrations of solidarity for the hunger strike of political prisoners against the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and the intolerable prison conditions have been banned in Amed and Bingöl on Wednesday.

In Amed (Diyarbakir), the MEBYA-DER solidarity association wanted to make a statement in front of the human rights memorial in Koşuyolu Park and was prevented from doing so by police. The memorial was cordoned off with bars. The crowd, including HDP deputy Remziye Tosun and activists from the Peace Mothers Initiative, then went to the HDP headquarters in the district of Sur and were stopped by police here as well. People protested against the police action and shouted slogans: "Bijî Berxwedana Zindana" (Long live prison resistance) and "We are not afraid, we are not silent, we do not obey".

The statement was finally made at the premises of MEBYA-DER. The president of the association Şeyhmus Karadağ pointed out the continued violations of rights in the prisons and stated that the legitimate demands of the hunger strikers must be met immediately. He added that the isolation in prisons mirrors the situation in society as a whole, for which the government is responsible.

Statement read from the window in Bingöl

In Bingöl province, a demonstration of solidarity by the HDP association was banned by the police with reference to the pandemic. A general meeting had initially taken place in the provincial association of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). Afterwards, a declaration on the hunger strike was to be made in front of the building. This was prevented by the police.

The party executive committee then decided to read out the declaration at the window of the building. The statement, read by HDP city councilor Songül Barça, referred to the inhumane prison conditions of political prisoners. The isolation established on the prison island of Imrali has spread to the entire country, the HDP politician stated, demanding that the hunger strikers' demands be met.