VAN - Mothers in cheecloths who were doing demonstrations in order for their children to stay alive, was fined for their actions. Some of the mothers were fined for the actions they did not participate. Mothers who stated that they won't be paying those fines, said: "Those who dragged us through the streets should have been fined, not us."

 

In order to draw attention to the hunger strikes and death fasting actions in Van, mothers with white cheesecloths, the Association of Prisoners and Convict Families (TUHAYDER) Van Branch Executives, People's Democratic Party (HDP) Provincial Co-Chairs Umit Dede and Yadişen Karabulak and many attorneys were fined with 320 TL, citing that they broke the  Law of Misdemeanors by the Van Provincial Police Department.  Mothers said they will not be paying those fines and that they attended those demonstrations in order to keep their children alive.

 

Keve Işık, one of the mothers who recieved a 320 TL fine, said she was taken under custodu by the police on April 30, while they were doing a demonstration in front of the Van Prison and she was released with judicial control order. Işık said: "They are following us all the time. They are monitoring us when we go out shopping for our children. This is no justice. We did not commit a crime. Our children in prison, joined this hunger strike to bring peace and justice to this country. We want out on the streets to protect them. We called out for peace and justice for everyone. We demanded peace all the time. They are fining us, mothers, instead of fining those who have battered us, dragged us through the streets. Those white cheesecloths we are wearing symbolizes peace.Our hearts are as clean and clear as our cheesecloths.We want everyone to be able to live in peace here together, that's our only aim."