The hunger strike launched by political prisoners in prisons in Turkey and Kurdistan to demand the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison for 25 years, has reached its 46th day. Baran Eman (24), one of the prisoners on strike, was arrested in the Nisêbîn district of Mêrdîn (Mardin) during the curfew period declared on 14 March 2016 and was sentenced to 35 years and 10 months in prison.

 

Eman's father Mehmet Eman (58) and mother Zahide Eman (47), who live in Pirsûs (Suruç) district of Riha (Urfa), said that they embraced their children's demands.

 

Reminding that his son Baran Eman, a prisoner in Diyarbakır No. 1 High Security Closed Prison, went on a hunger strike with similar demands for 135 days in 2018 and 127 days in 2020, father Eman said: “We talked to our son last week. We are facing a new hunger strike. My son went on hunger strike twice before. We expect the hunger strike this time to yield results. First of all, the isolation imposed on Mr. Öcalan must be abolished and his physical freedom must be ensured. The existing and ongoing pressures in the prison must be end as soon as possible. We want the war to end. We have expectations for a democratic country. We stand behind our children's demands until the end. Their demands are our demands." 

 

Baran Eman 

 

'CONDITIONS ARE SEVERE FOR BOTH THE FAMILIES AND THE PRISONERS'

 

Stating that the prisoners held in prison were exposed to very severe conditions and arbitrary practices, Eman said: “The conditions in the prison have never improved. Mr. Öcalan is a symbol, he has not been able to meet with his family for a very long time. This is a severe situation for both his family and himself. When we look at Mr. Öcalan's conditions, we see how severe the conditions the prisoners are under. Conditions are severe for both families and prisoners. The existing and heavy conditions are getting heavier every day.”

 

CALL FOR RESPONSIVITY

 

Calling for public awareness against the hunger strikes and arbitrary practices in prisons, Eman said: “Public opinion must be responsive. Everyone in Turkey, including Kurds, Turks, Alevis, Sunnis and public officials, must be responsive. It is our call to everyone; Everyone must take responsibility to end the pressure in prisons and end the hunger strikes as soon as possible. The suffering must end now."

 

'PRESSURE ON PRISONERS IS A MESSAGE TO US'

 

Stating that the heavy pressures on the prisoners are a message to those outside, Eman said: “The threat of our children means that we are threatened. A solution must be found before worse things happen in these prisons. Ill prisoners are not released. Ill prisoners should be released as soon as possible. The Kurdish issue has reached a serious threshold. This needs to be resolved through democratic means as soon as possible.”

 

'NO ONE CAN BREAK MY SON'S WILL'

 

Mother Zahide Eman pointed out that after the prisoners went on hunger strike, they were tried to intimidate them with arbitrary bans and disciplinary punishments and said: "When I last talked to my son, he told me that they were insulted because they went on hunger strike. My son asked us to record his voice every time he called me. He said: ‘It may be needed in the future.’ I am behind my son until the end. No one can break my son's will. No practice can break our will. We will defend their humanitarian demands until the end." 

 

MA / Emrullah Acar