Aggravated life sentence convict Didem Akman pauses death fast on 207th day

Photo: People's Law Office / Twitter

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Didem Akman, who has been serving her aggravated life sentence for "terrorism-related" crimes in Şakran prison in İzmir, western Turkey, paused her death fast on the 207th day.

The People's Law Office (HHB) announced on Twitter that Akman decided to pause his strike after the prison administration promised that it would implement the Court of Cassation decision increasing fresh air times and allowing convicts to see their family members together during visits.

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Akman's attorney Seda Şaraldı had explained to bianet why her client was on a death fast: 

"She is allowed to get air for an hour a day, but it drops to 50 minutes while she is going back and forth in the corridor. The warden takes her to get air, she is also on her own there. The door is locked behind her, she stays there on her own, be that in rain or summer's heat.

"Her first demand is an increase in the time that she can spend to get fresh air. The related legislation says that it shall be at least one hour and, as Type-F cells have a door directly opening to this area, this time is longer than an hour. After the pandemic broke out, prisons have increased the time that can be spent by aggravated life convicts in getting air. It is done for their immune system. However, no such right has been granted to Akman.

"Her second demand is a visit to be held together with her father and mother. Convicts sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment used to be allowed to meet their visitors one by one; however, the Court of Cassation handed down a judgment, indicating that they could meet them together. Akman wants this judgment to be implemented." (RT/VK)