VAN - İHD Van Branch President Murat Melet reminded that the isolation imposed upon PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is unlawful and said: "The isolation imposed on Öcalan is a method of torture in itself. This unlawfulness must end."

 

The indefinite- rotating hunger strike launched in prisons on November 27, 2020 against the violations of rights in prisons and the isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan being held in İmralı High Security Type F Closed Prison entered day 142. Speaking about the rotating hunger strike taken over by the 29th group, Human's Rights Association (İHD) Van Branch Chair Murat Melet called on to the people to take action.

 

'IT'S NOT BEARABLE ANYMORE'

 

Pointing out that hunger strikes had also emerged as a method of struggle in the past, Melet said that prisoners chose this method when things are not bearable anymore. Reminding that going on a hunger strike is very common in the history of Turkey, Melet said: "Apart from the injustice created by the political power or the state, I think that the society is also unfair to the people in prisons. Because it is actually a great mistake to expect everything from prisoners. Society has to take initiative. As human rights defenders, we are expressing the sanctity of the right to life. No matter what happens, a person should not starve themselves. But in Turkey today, people are going on hunger strikes because there is nothing else they can do."

 

'UNLAWFULNESS MUST END'

 

Noting that the prisoners aimed to democratize the current system with their struggles, Melet stated that the silence in the face of this action was sad. Saying, "This silence should end immediately and the voices of the prisoners should be heard," Melet said, "The rightful and legitimate demands of the people on hunger strike must be acknowladged and the isolation on Abdullah Öcalan must be lifted as soon as possible. This isolation is a torture method in itself. It also shows the deadlock of the justice system in the country. The implementation of isolation is unlawful. This unlawfulness must be removed as soon as possible. We should get rid of this silence, give the prisoners a voice, breathe their breath, and fight together." 

 

ÖCALAN'S RIGHTS

 

Melet emphasized that Öcalan should exercise his rights like all other prisoners. Noting that nobody wants a special treatment, Melet said: "Mr. Öcalan should also exercise the rights that is given to 300 thousand prisoners in Turkey. The government has been depriving him of his very basic rights with different methods for years now. We can't get any results like this. This path the government chose makes the people question the justice system, democracy and human rights in the country. These meaningless and unnecessary applications need to be fixed as soon as possible."

 

Melet called on to all civil society organizations in the country, political parties, institutions and organizations in favor of democracy and said: "Everyone needs to put an end to this silence. To achieve internal peace in Turkey, the isolation must be removed as soon as possible. And to make it happen, we all have to call on to the government."