Female prisoners go on indefinite hunger strike for Öcalan

Protests continue for Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who is held in aggravated isolation by the Turkish state in İmralı Island High Security Prison since April 5, 2015.

Seven female prisoners in Antalya L Type Closed Prison have started indefinite and non-alternate hunger strike on October 26 demanding an end to the aggravated isolation imposed on Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Informing about their protest through their lawyers, the female prisoners joining the hunger strike stated that they will continue their protest until a meeting is held with Öcalan as some of the current news and social media posts regarding his health condition and security are causing concerns.

The isolation of the Kurdish leader started on April 5, 2015, about two and a half years ago, lasted until September 11, 2016, when one of his family members was finally allowed to visit him on Imrali as a result of the hunger strike of 50 Kurdish politicians. However, ever since, he is being kept in isolation again, and neither his family nor his lawyers has been allowed to see him, and there has been no change in the aggravated isolation imposed on him.

This inhumane policy, violating all rights of prisoners, is leading to concerns for foremost, but not only, Kurds all around the world.

Moreover, this concern does not come out of nothing. The current policies of the AKP-MHP coalition and all Turkish institutions constitute a violation and deprivation of all rights of the Kurdish people.