Prisoners in Konya on hunger strike for 78 days in protest of confinement
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Some prisoners in the Ereğli Type-T Closed Prison in Konya, central Türkiye, have been on a hunger strike for 78 days in protest of rights violations.
The hunger-striking prisoners were transferred to Konya from various prisons around the country on August 23.
Prison officers strip-searched them and searched their mouths before putting them in single-person cells, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported.
The number of prisoners in single-person cells has risen to 40 in four months.
Prisoners who refused to be strip-searched were banned from visits and communicating with their family members for one month.
The prisoners in single-person cells were not allowed to see each other during their time out of cells.
Amid this situation, the prisoners on October 4 started an indefinite hunger strike in rotation, demanding to be placed in three-people cells, more time out of the cells, and an end to confinement.
After the prison administration did not meet their demands, all prisoners continued the hunger strike without rotation after November 16.
We can't see any person for 23 hours a day"
Members of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), the Human Rights Association (İHD), and the Çukurova TUAY-DER visited the prison on November 11.
In a report after their visit, the groups conveyed the prisoners' complaints about their situation.
"We can't see any person for 23 hours a day. This has now become psychological violence. There is one window in each room and it is fully covered by iron bars. We can't even see the sky because of the walls and fences.
"We don't have kettles, televisions and radios in our rooms. We can neither benefit from publications such as newspapers, magazines and books. There is a daily quota on the amount of hot water. It is not enough when used for cleaning.
"We are constantly harassed by some correction officers. We are not even allowed to say hello to other prisoners." (AS/VK)