İSTANBUL - Calling for solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike, political party represantatives said: "It is our duty to step up the resistance started by the prisoners."

 

The hunger strike launched by the prisoners against the aggravated isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the violations of rights in prisons continues on its 198th day. While the violations of rights in prisons keeps increasing, the prison administrations ignore the demands of the prisoners on purpose. Speaking about the ongoing hunger strikes, the political party represantatives called for solidarity.

 

Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) member Yasin Yalçın said that the government wants to suppress the voice of the outside with the policies it carries out in Turkish prisons. Expressing that there is an attack against anyone who raises their voice against the current situation, Yalçın stated that those who speak out are sent to prison. Pointing out that the oppressive environment outside and in prison is interconnected, Yalçın said, “Even the most legitimate rights are ignored in prisons. Policies followed by the government aims to rip the prisoners apart from life. Not allowing a prisoner to speak to their family is not legal. We have to help the prisoners be heard no matter what."

 

Underlining that the hunger strike in prisons is not supported enough Healthcare Workers Union (SES) member Hanife Gedik underlined how dignified the resistance in prisons is and said: "Their resistance will become more meaningful with our voice supporting them from the outside. Not helping them be heard means leaving them to their death. While their hunger strike actions in response to fascism instill fear in the government, our silence leaves them alone."

 

Stressing that their health status is worsening day by day, Gedik said immediate measures must be taken.

 

STEPPING UP THE RESISTANCE

 

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) member Doğan Çelik emphasized that human rights and justice are ignored in prisons and underlined that the isolation has reached an incredible level. Stating that people should embrace the hunger strike actions that they started against the isolation, Çelik said: "It is our duty to step up the resistance started by the prisoners. The struggle of the prisoners who starve themselves to achieve peace and democracy resonates all over the world. The demand for justice is the demand of all peoples of the world."