Hunger strikes launched by prisoners have entered their 173^rd day. Lawyer Ekin Yeter, member of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD), draws attention to the conditions in prisons becoming more aggravated with hunger strikes.

Amed- The indefinite-rotating hunger strikes launched on November 20, 2020, by political prisoners in Turkey are ongoing on its 173^rd day. Human rights defenders formed an Inmate Hunger Strike Monitoring Commission in Van province. Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) member Ekin Yeter is also a member of the commission. She drew attention to the continuing rights violations of hunger strikers and called for the demands of the hunger strikers to be immediately met.

Ekin Yeter stated that Turkey has turned into a country where rights violations have increased in recent years, legal rules have been suspended and international conventions haven’t been implemented. She also pointed out that hunger strikes have become a part of life to demand rights.

“Hunger strikes have continued in prisons and political prisoners held in 107 prisons have launched hunger strikes and they have entered their 173^rd day. Since the prisoners have launched the indefinite-rotating hunger strikes for two years, we can say that they probably have serious health problems in long term,” Ekin Yeter said.

The 14-day quarantine period for prisoners transferred to a hospital

Emphasizing that in addition to hunger strikes, the conditions under the Covid-19 pandemic have worsened the living conditions of the inmates. “A complete isolation has been created in prisons under the name of the pandemic measures. Open visits have been completely suspended. The number of non-contact visits has been reduced, and the number of people, who can visit the prisoners, has been limited. Lawyers can visit their clients behind the canvas. The transfer of patients was stopped for a long time. When the critical patients have been transferred to a hospital, they have been kept in 14-day quarantine. Newspapers and magazines haven’t been given to the prisoners. Letters and cargos have been delivered to the prisoners after months. The prisoners have been completely isolated from each other and outside.  On November 27, 2020, the prisoners announced that they launched the indefinite-rotating hunger strikes demanding the end of the rights violations and isolation in prisons of Turkey, the improvement of the bad conditions in prisons. But they have faced more rights violations for launching the hunger strikes. The prisoners have been deprived of the nutrients such as salt and sugar.”

Demands of prisoners should be met

Ekin Yeter stated that the demands of the prisoners are wholly justified and legitimate. “The demands of prisoners are the end of isolation imposed in prisons, particularly in Imrali Prison and the improvement of conditions in prisons. These legal demands should be met as soon as possible to end the hunger strikes.”