Transgender Inmate Miray on Death Fast for Her Right to Stay in a Ward

Trans inmate Miray, who has been on a hunger strike for 99 days to be transferred from a prison cell to a ward, has gone on a death fast as her demand has not yet been met.

Evrim Kepenek

Transgender Inmate Miray on Death Fast for Her Right to Stay in a Ward

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Held in a solitary confinement cell in Alanya Type L Prison, transgender inmate Miray has gone on a death fast to be transferred to a ward.

Miray had been on a hunger strike for 99 days with the same demand.

CLICK - Transgender Inmate on Hunger Strike for 55 Days, Her Only Demand is to Stay in a Ward

Sending a letter to the Civil Society in the Penal System (CİSST) Association from prison, Miray has stated the following:

"On the 99th day of my hunger strike, namely on October 22, I will stitch my mouth and go on a death fast. I filed a petition to the Ministry of Justice, explaining my demands. Take care."

Demands of LGBTI+ inmates in Alanya Type L Prison

The LGBTI+s arrested or convicted in Alanya Type L Prison want the prison administration to either open a new ward for them or to be referred to a prison with a ward.

They also request that the necessary hygienic conditions be ensured in prison; their right to go to the infirmary when they want be not prevented, their petitions be responded; discrimination and prejudice be ended.

'There is intense discrimination and sexism'

İncilay, another transgender inmate held in the same prison, previously recounted the prison conditions and what they went through briefly as follows:

"We came to this prison from other prisons. One of our friends was harassed in Denizli Prison. She was subjected to violence. She is also here. Not every prison is like this; we know because we came from other prisons. People are not treated like this. Only in this prison we observe intense discrimination and sexism.

"There is a prejudiced approach to us. None of our demands and wishes are taken into account. One of our friends had to go out of town, after all, we have the right to leave. They didn't help our friend at all to buy a ticket. Our friend couldn't buy a ticket with her own money. Instead of making our lives easier, they constantly discriminate and make here even more unliveable for us.

"Imagine a small space in which a round table andan iron cabinet fit. There are bars in their windows. The bars are covered with iron sheet. There are tiny holes on the iron sheet. How much air can get in there? We can't breathe."

(EMK/SD)

Origin

BIA News Desk

Evrim Kepenek

@kepenekevrimm

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bianet kadın ve LGBTİ+ haberleri editörü (Ekim 2018). bianet stajyerlerinden (2000-2001). Cumhuriyet, BirGün, DİHA, Jinha, Jin News için çalıştı. İMC TV’de muhabirlik yaptı. Sivil Sayfalar, Yeşil Gazete, Journo ve sektör dergileri için yazılar yazdı, haberleri yayınlandı. Hemşin kültür dergisi GOR’un kurucu yazarlarından. Yeşilden Maviye Karadenizden Kadın Portreleri, Sırtında Sepeti, Medya ve Yalanlar isimli kitaplara katkı sundu. 2011 Musa Anter Gazetecilik ödülü sahibi. Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikası Kadın ve LGBTİ+ Komisyonu kurucu üyelerinden. İstanbul Üniversitesi Avrupa Birliği ve Bilgi Üniversitesi Uluslararası İlişkiler bölümlerinden mezun. Ekim 2018’den bu yana bianet’te çalışıyor.