Human Rights Association Meets Justice Minister on Hunger Strikes, Freedom of Expression

* Photograph: Human Rights Association (İHD)

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The Central Executive Committee of the Human Rights Association (İHD) met with Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül and his delegation last week.

Answering our questions regarding the meeting, İHD Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan said that they presented their works and thoughts on many subjects such as the ongoing hunger strikes, cases concerning freedom of expression and the behavior of the judiciary towards rights defenders. The Ministry said it will evaluate their works, Türkdoğan added.

Saying that the dialogue with the Ministry will continue, Türkdoğan stated, "We will meet officials from prisons general directorate on the problems in prisons."

"We told about the demand to implement the law"

Öztürk Türkdoğan told the highlights from the meeting:

"The main item in our discussion was the ongoing hunger strikes. We particularly mentioned that the medical care of the inmates should not be hindered. We told the importance of fulfilling the needs of water, sugar and vitamin B1. We told about our sensitivity regarding the health checks.

"Of course we also told the need for the removal of the isolation, which is also the demand of the strikers. This hunger strike is being conducted for a legal right to be implemented in the first place.

"Implementation of the law in both İmralı and other type F prisons is demanded. We told these to the Minister."

"Limitations on freedom of expression were discussed"

Saying that the Minister did not make a specific comment on what they told him, "Gül said that he wishes that nobody gets hurt" Türkdoğan added.

Türkdoğan said that the situation of Leyla Güven, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Hakkari MP who has been on a hunger strike for 69 days was also told to the Minister.

The İHD Co-Chair remarked that the human rights reforms which are being prepared by the Ministry were also discussed in the meeting.

"The Ministry of Justice is working on a reform plan on human rights. They said they are open to dialogue and suggestions."

Trial of academics was told to the Ministry

Türkdoğan said that the trial of the Peace Academics was also discussed in the meeting and that they told about the trials of rights defenders and shared information on the case files.

"Minister Gül said that their works are continuing on the subject. Of course he cannot intervene in the judiciary but he wanted to be notified on malpractices."

"We defend the rights to life, health and protest"

We also talked on the prison administrations' attitude through the situation of Abdullah Zeydan, an imprisoned politician who was subjected to disciplinary punishment because of conducting hunger strike.

CLICK - Zeydan Given Disciplinary Punishment for Hunger Strike

He said, "Hunger strike is within the scope of an inmate's right to protest. Hunger strike is also a right to protest. Punishment is against human rights.

"Those who are currently in hunger strike do not have illegal demands. On the contrary, they demand the law to be implemented."

There are currently 35 strikes going on in 18 provinces and 200 strikers, Türkdoğan informed. (AS/VK)