Mazlum Dağ and Abdurrahman Er, who were arrested by the KDP, continue their hunger strike, demanding an end to arbitrary searches, physical violence, insults and the imposition of prison uniforms.

The two Kurds are held in Hewler Prison and have been on hunger strike since 18 May.

According to Rojnews, the chair of the Kurdistan Region Human Rights Board and the General Director of Prisons announced that a commission was established by the Kurdistan Region Minister of Social Work to meet the demands of Dağ and Er.

Background

Mazlum Dağ and Abdurrahman Er are accused of shooting dead the Turkish vice-consul and intelligence officer Osman Köse and two other people in a luxury restaurant in Hewlêr, the capital of the South Kurdistan autonomous region, on 17 July 2019.

In February 2020, Dağ and Er were sentenced to death by the 2nd Criminal Court in Hewlêr in a show trial under pressure from Turkey. Immediately following the trial, the two activists were placed in a prison cell next to ISIS jihadists.

On 22 September 2020, the death sentences were confirmed by the Court of Cassation.