Former CHP MP Eren Erdem to Begin Hunger Strike in Prison

* Photograph: AA-Archive

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Republican People's Party (CHP) fromer MP Eren Erdem, who has been arrested in Silivri Prison, has decided to go on a hunger strike.

Erdem will begin the hunger strike in protest against his judicial process.

The İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court gave a verdict of release for Eren Erdem on January 7, 2019; however, upon the objection of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the upper court, the İstanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court issued an arrest warrant for him.

Not being released from prison despite the verdict of release, Eren Erdem was arrested again by the İstanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court on January 8.

Yarkadaş: Being tried for FETÖ is hurting his pride

Speaking at a discussion program on Halk TV news channel, former CHP MP and journalist Barış Yarkadaş has announced that Eren Erdem will go on a hunger strike due to the judicial process which he has been going through:

"He is beginning a fast, which he calls the 'justice fast'. He emptied his refrigerator yesterday. Afterwards, he informed the prison administration that he would go on a hunger strike. His attorneys are trying to dissuade him.

"Eren Erdem sent a letter yesterday (January 27) and in that letter, he wrote, 'I am being unjustly kept in prison and it is hurting my pride to be tried for a organization, to which I have no relations, namely the FETÖ (which is held accountable for the coup attempt on July 15, 2016). I cannot stand it and I am starting a 'justice fast' against this injustice.'"

The full text of the letter sent by Eren Erdem was then shared by journalist Erk Acarer on his official Twitter account.

What happened?

A lawsuit has been filed against Eren Erdem because of the works that he did as the Editor-in-Chief of the Karşı newspaper.

Erdem faces 9.5 to 12 years in prison for the offenses of "Intentionally and willingly helping the armed terrorist organization while not being included in its hierarchical structure", "disclosing an anonymous witness," and "violating the privacy of the investigation."

After the indictment was accepted by the court, Eren Erdem went to İstanbul Atatürk Airport on May 21, 2018 but was not able to depart because of the international travel ban imposed on him.

Erdem was arrested on June 29, 2018 and is still held in the Silivri Prison.

The case continued at the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court on January 7, 2019. The İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court gave a verdict of release for Erdem on January 7, 2019; however, upon the objection of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the upper court, the İstanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court issued an arrest warrant for him.

Not being released from prison despite the verdict of release, Eren Erdem was arrested again by the İstanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court on January 8, 2019.

(EKN/SD)