DİYARBAKIR - Evaluating the ongoing hunger strikes against the aggravated isolation and increasing rights violations, Remziye Tek and Halime Topuz called for the prisoners’ demands to be met, pointed out that wars and attacks are related with isolation.

 

The hunger strike resistance launched by Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) and Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) prisoners on November 27, 2020, against the aggravated isolation imposed on PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan for 22 years and the increasing rights violations in prisons has left behind for nine months. While the government ignores the demands of prisoners on hunger strike, violations of rights experienced by sick prisoners in particular are increasing.

 

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Bağlar District Co-chair Remziye Tek and executive of the Association for Assistance and Solidarity with Families Who Lost Their Families in Cradle of Civilization (MEBYA-DER) Halime Topuz evaluated the isolation and violations of rights in Imralı and prisons.

 

‘Rights must be defended so that no death news comes from prisons’

 

Emphasizing that the world has a twofaced attitude towards PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Remziye Tek stated that the Kurds should stand up against this attitude and take to the areas. Remziye said: ‘’Nation-states are partners in the isolation against Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, political prisoners and the Kurdish people. Because they are afraid of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas and continue to implement the isolation. If there is not a major uprising against the isolation, the negativities in prisons will continue to increase in a short time. Before the news of death comes from the prisons, especially the people of Diyarbakır, where the eyes of the whole world are on, should stand up and must be defended rights.’’

 

‘Turkey is stalemated by its dirty policies’

 

Pointing to the isolation policies and rights violations maintained by the government, Remziye said: ‘’The Turkish state is stalemated with its dirty and self-seeking policies. Because it is stalemated, whatever comes its way, it says, ‘I kill and persecute them all’. It is trying to do this with racism, especially against the Kurdish people. In the face of this attitude, the Kurdish people must show great resistance to break the isolation. From young and old alike should stand up. First of all, they should lay claim to their leader and the prisoners who struggle in prisons with great resistance.’’

 

Arbitrary practice against prisoners

 

Halime Topuz also drew attention to the arbitrary practices against prisoners in prisons. Stating that prisoners do not have access to healthy food and cleaning supplies in prisons, Halime said: ‘’We send money for our children, but they give money after three-four months. When we talk to our children on the phone, they do not talk about the situations they are in. But when we go to the meetings, we see with our own eyes how they are. As long as our children are not given their rights, the isolation will continue. We do not accept this attitude towards the prisoners.’’

 

‘AKP used all tyranny against the people in 20 years’

 

Saying that the authorities are ‘’deaf and dumb’’ in the face of the prisoners’ situation, Halime said: ‘’The isolation on Imralı and all the prisoners should be lifted. The AKP, which has been in power for 20 years, shows that it maintains open hostility towards the Kurdish people. In 20 years, it used all its cruelty and tyranny against the people. When we voice rights violations, they either silence us or take us into custody. We cannot talk about rights and law in Turkey. The Kurdish people and all families should stand up and raise their voices so that the isolation is ended and our children are freed from this persecution.’’

 

‘Attacks are related with isolation’

 

Halime finally said: ‘’The attacks on Shengal and the chaos in the Middle East are related with isolation. The war policies of the states in the Middle East turned the situation into a deadlock. For wars to end, dialogue way must be opened and isolation must be lifted.’’