Six PKK prisoners, whohad been transferred to Van Prison after being caught in a military operation following their break away from Bingol Prison in 2013, have been taken away in a military operation at the prison last night. It is still not known where the prisoners have been taken.

6 PKK prisoners, Diyar Kaydu,  Diren Yasa, Osman Kılınç, Orhan Yakışır, Hüseyin Barsak and Devrim Kavak escaped from Bingöl Prison in 2013 and were later sent to the Van F Type Prison after being recaptured. They were taken away from the prison in Van last night by Turkish soldiers. There is no information yet about where they have been taken.

Giving information about the operation, the chair of Van TUYAD-DER (Prisoners Aid and Solidarity Association), Ahmet Aygün, said 7 prisoners were taken away from the prison last night and that 6 of them were the ones who escaped from Bingöl prison in 2013. Aygün called on the public to be sensitive about the issue as the system had become more repressive towards PKK and PJAK prisoners following the escape. Aygün said last night’s operation had been carried out in revenge.

Aygün said they did not have information regarding where the 7 prisoners had been taken, adding that the authorities told them only that they were taken to another place for security reasons.  Aygün strongly condemned the night operation adding that they will never back down in the face of these kinds of repressive policies.