‘Hunger Strikes Shouldn’t Be Brought to the Point Where They End in Deaths’

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Lawyers from the Law Bureau of This Age (Asrın Hukuk Bürosu) held a statement for the press at Taksim Hill Hotel today (May 6) and shared the details of their meeting with jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has not been allowed to meet his lawyers since 2011.

CLICK - His Lawyers Meet Abdullah Öcalan

Lawyers Faik Özgür Erol, Newroz Uysal and Rezan Sarıca read out the joint statement on behalf of Abdullah Öcalan, Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş, who are held in İmralı Type F High-Security Prison. 

Some highlights from the joint statement are as follows:

'There is a need for social reconciliation'

"In the historical process that we are currently going through, there is a need for a deep social reconciliation. There is a pressing need for a democratic negotiation which is away from all types of polarization and culture of conflict in resolving the problems.

"We can solve the problems of Turkey, even those of the region, and primarily the problem of war, not with physical tools of violence, but by using soft power, that is, by using reason as well as political and cultural power.

'Sensitivities of Turkey should be heeded as well'

"We believe that the problems in Syria should be resolved within the frame of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) by keeping away from the culture of conflict and by adopting the perspective of local democracy based on unity of Syria as well as Constitutional assurance.

"Within this context, the sensitivities of Turkey should be heeded as well.

'Hunger strikes shouldn't end in deaths'

"We respect the resistance of friends inside and outside prisons; however, we have to emphasize that they should not bring their hunger strikes where they will put their health at risk and end in their deaths.

"For us, their mental, physical and spiritual stated of health are above everything. Moreover, we believe that the most meaningful approach would be related to improving their mental and spiritual standing.

"For us, a solution of honorable peace and democratic politics is essential."

Çiçek: It doesn't mean isolation has ended

Speaking to bianet after the meeting, Öcalan's lawyer and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul Provincial Chair Cengiz Çiçek stated that the meeting of Öcalan with his lawyers does not come to mean that the isolation imposed on him in İmralı Prison has been ended.

Underlining that the statement in question is also a call to the hunger strikers, Çiçek said, "But the ones on hunger strike will make the decision."

Meeting with Öcalan lasted for around an hour

The statement for the press held today was also attended by HDP MP Ahmet Şık, Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch Chair Gülseren Yoleri, 78's Initiative Spokesperson Celalettin Can and mothers whose sons and daughter are on a hunger strike as well as several journalists.

Sharing the details of the meeting with Öcalan, the lawyers stated that this meeting marks the first lawyer's meeting that could be made with Öcalan since July 27, 2011 and after submitting 810 applications.

It was also indicated that the meeting could be held after the Bursa Heavy Penal Court lifted the related ban. Though the lawyers also requested a meeting with other three inmates, Veysi Aktaş, Hamili Yıldırım and Ömer Hayri Konar, this request was not granted.

It was stated that even though four lawyers wanted to meet Öcalan in İmralı, only two of the lawyers were allowed to have a meeting with him. Indicating that the meeting lasted for around an hour, the lawyers also said that the request of his family to meet Öcalan on May 6 was rejected. (HA/FD/SD)