ANTEP - Fatma Beçet, mother of Ayten Beçet who ended her life demanding the ongoing isolation in İmralı to end, called for support for the hunger strikers in prisons and said: "Their only demand is the removal of the isolation. Don't let others die like my daughter. We were hurt, don't let others get hurt."

 

The hunger strike, led by Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven, demanding an end to the isolation against PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan on November 8, 2018, and turned into a death fast on April 30, 2019. During the 200 days of hunger strike action, Zülküf Gezen in Tekirdağ Prison, Ayten Beçet in Gebze Women's Prison, Zehra Sağlam in Oltu T Type Closed Prison, Medya Çınar in Mardin E Type Closed Prison, Mahsum Pamay in Elazığ Prison, Yonca Akıcı in Şakran Closed Prison and Siraç Yüksek in Osmaniye Prison as well as Uğur Şakar in Germany's Krefeld city ended their lives protesting the isolation in İmralı.

 

On the second anniversary of the death of Ayten Beçet who took her own life in prison demanding an end to the isolation, dozens are on hunger strike for 117 days in prisons once again.

 

LOVED CULTURE AND ARTS

 

Beçet was born in Antep, in 1991 where her family had to migrate from Siirt's Pervari district due to oppression. Going to school in Antep, Beçet got into the engineering faculty but did not attend. Starting to work in Mesopotamia Culture Center (MKM), Beçet dedicated her life to culture and arts.

 

9 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

 

Taken into custody in 2008, Beçet was arrested with the accusation of 'being a member of a terrorist organization' and sent to Adana Karataş Prison. Beçet was released from prison after being held there for 3 months and 10 days but she was arrested again in 2011 and held in the same prison for 2 years. Beçet who was sentenced to 9 years by Adana 6th High Criminal Court, was arrested one more time, one year after being released. Being transferred to Gebze Women's Closed Prison after 3 and a half years, Beçet ended her life on March 23, 2019 to protest the isolation in İmralı.

 

HER BODY WAS STOLEN BY THE POLICE 

 

Beçet's body was taken to İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institude (ATK) from the prison. The police called the family and told them to take her body. The family headed to İstanbul. Siezing the body, the police told the family that they could get their daughter's body in Antep. The family had to go back to Antep empty handed.

 

FUNERAL CEREMONY WAS NOT ALLOWED

 

Not allowing the family to give their daughter a decent funeral and stealing the body of Beçet, the police said only 5 people could attend the so called funeral they held themselves. Beçet was buried in the middle of the night with the participation of 20 people tops.

 

MOTHER BEÇET: I'M PROUD OF MY DAUGHTER

 

Speaking to Mesopotamia Agency about what they have been through since the death of their daughter, Fatma Beçet said: "My husband told me our daughter took her own life. It was the most intense pain I experienced my whole life. They put obsticles in front of us every step of the way. First they stole her body, then they didn't allow us to get inside the cemetery, which was filled by countless police and soldiers. 4 people were able to pray for my daughter at the funeral before she was buried. We buried her at 04.00 A.M in the morning with the light coming from the ambulance. They put guns in our heads. Our house was under police blocade for days. They didn't let anyone to come and offer their condolences. We were left alone. They told me, 'Your daughter is a terrorist. We will not let you grieve for her'. My daugther was the honour and glory of Kurdistan. My head is high, I am proud of her. She died a death she thought worthy of herself."

 

'WE WILL FREE OUR PRESIDENT'

 

Stating that her friends stopped her daughter from participating in the hunger strikes back than due to her health issues, mother Beçet said: "She told me resented that. She said she cried for days. She was so sad. Her friends said they celebrated Newroz the day she fell martyr. She wrote two letters upstairs in their ward. She put one in her pocket and one inside her shirt, close to her heart. They cleaned the ward with her friends. She cleaned  her shoes and removed her shoelaces. She helped her friends on hunger strike to drink juice. They said she was full of joy that day. They asked her if she heard anything that made her happy. Ayten said, 'I am smiling to make to happy. We will win. We will free our president and save Kurdistan."

 

LAST PHONE CALL WITH HER MOTHER

 

Describing her last phone call with her daughter, mother Beçet said her daughter was very happy that day. She said: "Mom, support the hunger strikers. Let's achieve peace together'. She told me she would sacrifice herself for Kurdistan if the people outside remains silent and they couldn't achieve peace. She told me that she won't be able to speak to us for 20 days. I didn't know she was saying goodbye. It was actually our last conversations. The next they we heard that she fell martyr."

 

'DON'T LET ANYONE BE HURT LIKE THAT'

 

Emphasizing that the hunger strike actions that continue on the 117th day against the Imrali isolation and increasing rights violations in prisons should be embraced, Mother Beçet said, “Their only demand is to end the isolation. We were hurt. Don't let anyone else be hurt like that. Meet the demands."

 

 

MA / Barış Polat