Families of prisoners who have been on hunger strikes against the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan were attacked by the police once more on day 25 of the vigil they have been holding in front of the Gebze Prison.
Families of prisoners have been holding a vigil in front of the Gebze Closed Women’s Prison Type M since April 9.
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Ali Kenanoglu and Mesopotamia Cultural Center (MKM) artists were also in Gebze to show support for the families.
The families gathered in front of the HDP district offices and drove to a location close to the prison.
Families marching to the prison were cut off by the police. The protest was not permitted despite MP Ali Kenanoglu’s attempts to discuss with the police.
The police said the vigil was banned by the governorate and forced the families into their vehicles.
Hatice Soyler, mother of Ozlem Soyler who has been on a hunger strike in the Gebze Prison for 139 days, said: “Even if you arrest us a thousand times, even if you batter us every day, we will be here.”
The families announced that they will gather in front of the Gebze Prison again on Saturday.
