Elfazi Toral

 

ISTANBUL - Mothers of Peace, who continue their "Give voice to freedom" protest in front of Bakırköy Prison, stated that the struggle will continue until the isolation is ended and said, "The day is the time to win, the day is the time to resist, the day is the time to unite and stand up." 

 

Political prisoners in prisons, especially PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been kept under heavy isolation in İmralı and no news has been received from him for 41 months, are under isolation. Prisoners' relatives continue their struggle against the ongoing isolation policies. In Istanbul, under the leadership of the Marmara Association for Assistance and Solidarity with the Families of Prisoners and Prisoners (MATUHAY-DER) and relatives of prisoners, the "Give voice to freedom" protest in front of Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison within the scope of the campaign "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish problem" continues with great determination. Against the policies pursued by the AKP-MHP government and the torture in the prisons in question, the insistence on struggle is rising from all walks of life, especially from the relatives of prisoners.

 

Mothers of Peace in Istanbul made evaluations on the "Give voice to freedom" protests initiated by prisoners' relatives.

 

Resistance in prisons!

 

Sabiha Bozan, who said that there has been a heavy isolation in all prisons in Kurdistan and Turkey for many years, reminded that the prisoners continued the hunger strike action for a long time against the ongoing isolation policies. Pointing out that the hunger strike evolved into a boycott of not meeting with the families, Sabiha said, "Prisoners continued their action for a long time. 'Why can't we meet with our leader?' It was an action carried out for this purpose. It was a part of the action that the prisoners continued. It was an action that the prisoners resisted. There is a great resistance in prisons."

 

'This people have the right to own their prisons'

 

Pointing to the "Give voice to freedom!" action, Sabiha said, "We are continuing the action in front of the prison under the leadership of MATUHAY-DER in order to be the voice of the prisoners." Sabiha stated that they were subjected to violence and attacks by the police during their protest in front of Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison and added, "We are raising our voice with all our strength there. We resist so that our voice reaches the prisoners.  They are shortening the duration of our action there day by day and narrowing our space. This is also an isolation. This people have the right to claim their prisons. We, the mothers, call on all peoples. It is time to put an end to this persecution of the Kurdish people. Êdî Bes e! A great peace must be achieved now. There must be a voice for freedom. Everyone should give voice to the 'Give Voice to Freedom' action. They should protect the prison gates."

 

'We will follow in the footsteps of our children and our cause'

 

Fatma Yılmaz, who started her speech in front of the prison with the words "We are going for our leader and our children", said, "We are there for the persistence of the struggle that has been going on for years. By making noise, we are making the struggle even bigger".  Stating that no mother should shed tears, Fatma said, "No matter what happens, we will not leave the prison gates. We will follow in the footsteps of our children and our cause. Despite all the violence we have been subjected to in front of the prison, we do not give up. We are persistent as long as they do not allow it. Everybody needs to stand up and protect their children. We want peace. It is time for us to unite. The day is the time to win, the day is the time to resist, the day is the time to unite and stand up."

 

'Isolation is deepening the war'

 

Evaluating the 41 months of isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, from whom no news has been received for 41 months, Güler Buğday said, "Millions of Kurdish people are under isolation in the person of Mr Abdullah Öcalan. Thousands of Kurds are in dungeons. Isolation is a crime against humanity. Isolation deepens the war. As long as isolation continues, blood and war will continue. Everything centres around isolation. Isolation means everything. No one knows what prisoners live between four walls. The government ignores them. Prisoners are doing their best.  From now on, families and the Kurdish people need to put a stop to this course of events."

 

'This voice is the voice of freedom'

 

Emphasising the purpose of the "Give voice to freedom" action, Güler said, "This action is an action for freedom. It is an action for the end of isolation. The action continues for all prisoners in the person of Abdullah Öcalan. This voice is the voice of freedom. Let everyone hear this voice of freedom. Freedom is necessary not only for the Kurdish people but for all peoples. All peoples must stand against this oppression. Our struggle will continue. Our struggle will continue until freedom is given a voice and isolation is ended. We will strengthen our struggle even more. We will not give up demanding freedom. Let's find a solution to the problems in prisons. The problems of prisoners must be eliminated."