İSTANBUL - Family of prisoner Birdal Abay who went on a hunger strike in 2019 for 142 days demanding the isolation on Öcalan to be lifted, described the process as, "They were on hunger strike, we were dying here" and called for support for the action that had to be done again.

 

The hunger strike started by the prisoners on November 27 against the isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan held in İmralı High Security Type F Closed Prison for 21 years and the violations of rights in prisons continues on its 68th day. The fact that the authorities ignore the demands worries the relatives of the hunger strikers. Stating that isolation deepened in prisons due to the pandemic, relatives of the prisoners called for support for the hunger strikers.

 

We spoke to the mother and sister of Birdal Abay who was on hunger strike from January 5, 2019 to May 26, 2020 in Mardin Type E Closed Prison regarding the violations of rights and the hunger strike action.

 

Stating that Abay is in prison since October 2, 2017, Abay's sister Gülten Abay said: "They were on hunger strike in there and we were dying here. Their hunger was ripping our hearts out everyday. We couldn't eat. Everytime we sat on the table my mother used to cry. We grieved throughout the hunger strike."

 

Underlining that the prisoners are now facing more violations of rights due to the pandemic, sister Abay told that the guards are entering the wards without face masks, that the prisoners are not given disinfectants and everything at the canteen were sold at exorbitant prices. Abay also told that the prisoners are not allowed in the yard because of the mist and that the prison administration said that the prisoners might escape using the mist. Abay added that the heaters are not working.

 

'THEIR DEMANDS ARE OUR DEMANDS'

 

Abay said: "I spoke to my brother 2 weeks ago. He was waiting for his turn then. I am not sure if he is on hunger strike now but he will be and I want to underline that their demands are our demands."

 

Pointing out that they have been through this as a family, Abay said: "Their demands must be met immediately. Everyone should hear the voice of the families of the prisoners. Raise your voices for the isolation to be lifted."

 

Abay's mother Binevş Abay who underlined that her son was imprisoned unjustly, said: "They released the drug dealers, sex offenders and killers and hold people like my son for years in prison. They are holding him in prison for years now. I want them to face me and tell me what he did wrong."

 

Expressing that her son was on hunger strike previously, Abay said: "He didn't want me to visit him back then. He thought it would upset me to see him like that. I cried days and nights until the hunger strike was over."

 

'MEET THE DEMANDS'

 

Abay said: "They go on hunger strikes because they have nothing else to protest the violations they are subjected to. I am adressing the government, end these pressures on our children. Meet their demands."

 

 

MA / Naci Kaya