MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed (Diyarbakır)- The hunger strike started by political prisoners across Turkey on November 27, 2023 to demand “freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a resolution to the Kurdish question” continues. Since the hunger strike started, political prisoners have been subjected to more rights violations; the hunger strikers have been given disciplinary punishments and they cannot access their basic needs in some prisons. Akhisar Closed Prison in Manisa is one of them.

Kadriye Sirek’s son Şevder Sirek is a political prisoner held in Akhisar Closed Prison. “Political prisoners cannot even find a space to sleep,” said Kadriye Sirek, pointing to the overcrowded prisons. “32 political prisoners are held in a single ward. They sleep in turn. My son has been held in prison for nine years. Although he has already completed his sentence, he has not been released from prison for six months for exhibiting ‘bad behavior’.”

‘Some have to sleep on the ground’

Speaking about rights violations faced by political prisoners, Kadriye Sirek said, “Some have to sleep on the ground while some sleep in turn because there is no space. They often are not given food or they are given dirty food. The clothes we send to prison are also thrown away by wardens. Hot water is not provided to political prisoners to take a shower. These violations must end now. Our children do not even have water in the prison. This oppression will definitely end.”

‘My son has not been released for six months’

Although her son has already completed his sentence, he has not been released for six months. “I have gone to the prison for years to see my son. My son has been behind bars for years. Although my son has already completed his sentence, he has not been released for six months. He has not been released from prison because he does not say ‘I regret’. Not only my son but also hundreds of political prisoners are not released from prison on the same excuse. We demand the release of our children.”

‘Social peace must be built’

Kadriye Sirek pointed to the hunger strike started by political prisoners and their families and said, “The key to peace is being held in Imrali prison. The demands of the political prisoners must be met now. Social peace must be built. As families of the hunger strikers, we hold a sit-in here to end the isolation and torture against them. People should support us to be the voices of prisoners. We must unite to ensure peace.”