Rights Defenders Meet Ministry for Hunger Strikers

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Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Chair Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan, poet Ahmet Telli and photographer Mehmet Özer have met the officials of the Ministry of Interior about the condition of hunger striking Grup Yorum music band members, Mustafa Koçak and lawyers.

The delegation has announced the meeting in a written statement:

"The delegation that we formed to discuss the condition of hunger strikers requested an appointment from the Ministries of Interior and Justice, the Parliamentary Speaker's Office and the AK Party Deputy Chairpersonship through the İHD Central Office. Upon our appointment request, a meeting was held with the Vice Ministry of Interior on March 12, 2020.

'Koçak must be released'

"During the meeting, the expectation to lift the ban on Grup Yorum members' concerts was expressed. In addition, the legal and legitimate requests of Mustafa Koçak, who is in an extremely serious health condition, to be referred to the Forensic Medicine Institution, to be released in accordance with the report to be issued by the Forensic Medicine Institution (considering that he cannot stay in prison in his current condition) and to evaluate his case file in the light of fair trial principles were expressed.

'Their basic request is a fair trial'

"Regarding hunger striking lawyers, their expectation from the Court of Cassation, which is to examine their case files, to consider their right to a fair trial, their most basic request, was expressed.

"The Vice Minister listened to our delegation carefully during the meeting and a meeting that allowed an elaborate discussion of the problem was held. The meeting was then evaluated by the Minister of Interior and his Vice Ministers and a feedback has been given to our delegation.

"Our delegation has been told that if the hunger strikers abandon their hunger strikes, their demands will be evaluated.

"Hunger striking Grup Yorum members and lawyers have been informed by our delegation about this entire process.

'They are in an extremely serious health condition'

"We, as the delegation, would like to once again announce it to the public that the requests of hunger strikers are humane and rights-based requests.

"We have to note that these requests must be considered within the frame of protecting the right to health and life and fulfilling the right to a fair trial, which are among the most fundamental rights. Therefore, state institutions had better approach the current situation from this perspective.

"Hunger striking Grup Yorum members, Mustafa Koçak and lawyers are in an extremely serious health condition.

"We indicate that the aforementioned requests can be met easily in such an environment where their right to life is in danger and call on the political power holders and the public to act responsibly."

Hunger strikes continue for almost 300 days

As of March 28, Grup Yorum members İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek have been on a hunger strike for 284 days. While they began their indefinite and irreversible hunger strike in prison, they now continue it at home.

Held in İzmir Kırıklar Prison, Mustafa Koçak has been on an indefinite and irreversible hunger strike for 269 days as of March 28.

Koçak was referred to the prison's sickroom by force on March 12 and he faced an attempt of medical intervention against his will. As he refused it, Koçak did not undergo a treatment at the sickroom. However, he was referred from Şakran Prison to İzmir Kırıklar Prison against his will and without the knowledge of his attorneys and family.

Lawyers Selçuk Kozağaçlı, Barkın Timtik, Ebru Timtik, Oya Arslan and Aytaç Ünsal have also been on a hunger strike in support of hunger striking Grup Yorum band members since February 3, 2020. (RT/SD)