Statement of ‘Indefinite Hunger Strike’ by Inmates

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Inmates who have been arrested or convicted on charges related to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Kurdistan Free Life Party (PAJK) have announced that the hunger strikes started in protest against the government, which has not taken a step to put an end to the isolation, will spread to all prisons across Turkey as of tomorrow (March 1).

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency, making a statement on behalf of the inmates, Deniz Kaya, who is also in prison, has stated the following:

"We, as the prisoners who are members to the PKK and PAJK and held in prisons of Kurdistan and Turkey, announce that we will start a protest of indefinite and irreversible hunger strike in all prisons as of March 1. No one can dissuade us from our ongoing resistance, except for our leadership. It is our call to all defenders of democracy, intellectuals, writers, academics and civil society organizations: Be a voice to our rising resistance."

Leyla Güven on 113th day of her hunger strike

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Hakkari MP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven has been on the 113rd day of her hunger strike, which she started in prison with the demand that "the isolation of PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan be ended."

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Sebahat Tuncel and former HDP Hakkari MP Selma Irmak, who have been arrested since November 6 and 4, 2016 respectively, have also been on an indefinite and irreversible hunger strike since January 15, 2019.

According to the latest statement of the Human Rights Association (İHD), 343 inmates have been on an indefinite and irreversible hunger strike. According to the statement of inmate Deniz Kaya, 331 prisoners have been on an indefinite-irreversible hunger strike in 67 prisons. (AS/SD)