Every day, news of death and torture comes from prisons in Turkey and Kurdistan. Political prisoners started irreversible and alternating hunger strikes in many prisons against this situation. While prisoners went on an alternating hunger strike in Van, Kürkçüler and Trabzon prisons, 3 political prisoners in Izmir Kırıklar Prison went on an indefinite and non-alternate hunger strike. Despite all the warnings, the AKP-MHP government continues to pursue inhumane policies in prisons.

Talking to ANF about the situation in prisons, TUHAY-DER co-chair, Edibe Babur, said that the demands of the prisoners are just and that something should be done.

80-year-old prisoners

Babur said: “The guards and administrators are increasing their cruelty. Ill prisoners are not taken to the doctor. In Van T-Type there is an 80-year-old, Makbule Özer. Despite the doctors' report that she "cannot stay in prison", unfortunately, the Van Prison administration did not release her. When it comes to Kurds, violations of all kinds are applied. Hanife Acar, who is 75, is being kept in Van T Type. People of this age are taken to the hospital in handcuffs. Our call to the Ministry of Justice is to correct these conditions. Ill prisoners must be treated. This is a humanitarian demand."

 ‘The government is responsible for the prisoners’ lives’

Babur said that according to the information conveyed to them by their families, inhumane situations are experienced in prisons, and added: “It is a great shame. This injustice must be stopped as soon as possible. Those people are prisoners and the state is responsible for their lives."