News Center- A Turkish court has postponed the execution of the prison sentence of Sibel Balaç, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 298 days in prison demanding the release of sick prisoners and the end of rights violations in Turkey’s prisons.

The People's Law Office has announced the postponement of the execution of Sibel Balaç’s prison sentence on their Twitter account. After official procedures are completed, Sibel Balaç will be released from Etlik City Hospital, where she has been receiving treatment due to her deteriorating health condition.

Message from Sibel Balaç: Resistance deserves victory

Sibel Balaç shared a message and said, “Hello, today is the 298th day of my resistance, indefinite hunger strike. I have gained my freedom. If I am free today, it is because of my people. This victory is the victory of all of us, I celebrate our victory. My treatment will start at this hospital. I’m fine, I love you all so much. Resistance deserves victory.”

What happened?

Sibel Balaç is a former teacher who participated in the Yüksel Street protests of 2018. She and other former public servants had been protesting human rights violations in Turkey and the purge of public servants after a 2016 coup attempt. They mainly gathered on Ankara’s Yüksel Street, in front of a human rights monument, to demand their jobs back. On December 10, 2018, she was detained along with other protesters. She was sent to prison on December 18, 2018. Then, she was sentenced to eight years, one month and 15 days in prison.

On December 29, 2020, she went on an indefinite hunger strike to demand a fair trial, the release of sick prisoners and the end of rights violations in Turkey’s prisons. When she started her hunger strike, she weighed 85 kilograms. Now, she weighs 30.