The aggravated isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in İmralı High Security F Type Closed Prison for 22 years, continues. Although Öcalan's lawyers and family meetings were allowed for some periods due to the rising reactions, the aggravated isolation conditions in İmralı have never been completely removed.After the hunger strikes and reactions, Öcalan was last able to talk to his lawyers on 7 August 2019 and with his brother Mehmet Öcalan on 25 March 2021 on the phone. 

 

HUNGER STRIKE ON DAY 200

 

The protests against the isolation continues all over Turkey. The indefinite- rotating hunger strike launched by political prisoners in Turkish prisons on November 27, 2020 with the demand of the lifting of the isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the end of the violations of rights in prisons has reached day 200 today. The hunger strike launched by the women against the isolation in Maxmur Camp in the Federated Kurdistan Region of Iraq continues on its 179th day, while the indefinite rotating hunger strike launched by the refugees staying in Lavrio Camp in Greece continues on its 162nd day.

 

Mehmet Hayme from Bolu Type F Closed Prison evaluated the hunger strike action.

 

'OUR ONLY GOAL IS THE FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN

 

Stating that he also participated in the hunger strike launched on November 8, 2018, under the leadership of Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-chair Leyla Güven, for 87 days and the action that continued on the 200th day, Hayme said, “As you know, we are in a great struggle and we have only one goal; that is the liberation of Abdullah Öcalan. We have no other goal or demand.”

 

Emphasizing that they will not give up on their goals under any circumstances, Hayme said: "

 

We know that Mr. Öcalan's freedom is the salvation of the Kurdish people, Kurdistan, women, children, youth and humanity. For this reason, we are currently on a hunger strike. We started with great hope and we continue to do so. Of course, there are difficulties and pressures, but we do not give up."

 

MESSAGE OF DETERMINATION

 

Stating that the prison administration has been indifferent to their demands for a long time, Hayme said, “Friends who are on hunger strike are not given the nutritions they need for the hunger strike. Medicines our sick friends need are not provided. We can not do sports or got out to the yard. We can not see our families. They are sending the prisoners in prisons so far from their hometowns to prevent them from seeing their families. We are constantly under pressure and subjected to violence. But these are not important for us."

 

Describing the protest in prisons as a "historical resistance", Hayme shared the information that 3 detainees are on hunger strike in the prison where he is held. Hayme said, “We only want one thing from our people; We Kurdish youth are in the footsteps of our ancestors, our land, our culture and our language. We are the children of this people, we have not stolen anything from anyone, our only purpose is to fight for our existence and our lands. This is all our people need to know and be the voice of our resistance."

 

 

MA / Cengiz Özbasar