WAN - Evaluating the actions in prisons, Wan TUHAY-DER Co-chair Çetin Uyar said, "Ending the isolation will contribute to the democratization of the country. People must say 'stop' to the isolation for democracy, justice and peace."

 

Political prisoners in prisons continue their hunger strike action, which PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan started on November 27, 2023, for physical freedom and the solution of the Kurdish issue, as a boycott of courts, telephone calls and family visits as of April 4. Çetin Uyar, co-chair of Wan Association of Assistance and Solidarity with Families of Detainees and Convicts (TUHAY-DER), spoke about the action carried out by the prisoners with great determination despite the oppression and rights violations that are reflected in the public opinion every day.

 

 

Stating that many protests were carried out both in prisons and outside regarding the "absolute" isolation in Imrali Prison, Uyar said that the state had closed its eyes and ears to this demand. Uyar said: “We started a 'Justice Watch' with the institution and relatives of prisoners at the Wan Bar Association in 2021 regarding the isolation imposed on Öcalan. In 2023, prisoners went on a rotating hunger strike in prisons with the same demand. Relatives started a 'Justice Watch' in the Wan Provincial Organization of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP). In the same context, a two-pronged 'Freedom March' was launched from Wan and Qers provinces of Kurdistan, together with 75 Kurdish politicians. The march lasted for 15 days in the cities of Kurdistan. We explained to the public the reasons for the isolation and why it needed to be broken. However, at this point we have not received any response to our demands, neither positive nor negative.”

 

 

'THE PRISONERS' DEMAND IS CLEAR'

 

Reminding that the prisoners continued their action as of April 4, boycotting the court and not coming to family and phone calls, Uyar said: “The demands of the prisoners are clear and unequivocal. They will continue their action until they hear news about Mr. Öcalan's situation. Because Mr. Öcalan is the leader of a people. Therefore, not hearing from Mr. Öcalan and being isolated is not a situation that the Kurds and their supporters will accept. At this point, the deadlock caused by the isolation has spread to the whole society. If the state and the AKP government turn ignore the action, new actions will be initiated in many areas, especially in prisons."

 

'IT IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM OF THE KURDS'

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan is the will of the Kurds, Uyar called for support of the actions and continued: "If it is freedom of Mr. Öcalan, the Kurds and the prisoners will carry out all kinds of actions. We want the demands of the prisoners to be fulfilled. The action carried out by the prisoners to end the isolation is not only for the Kurds. Because the isolation that started in Imrali imprisoned the entire society. Therefore, ending the isolation will make a great contribution to the democratization of this country. If all people living in Turkey want to live democratically and peacefully, they must say 'stop' to the isolation. The freedom of the Kurds means the freedom of the people of Turkey. We invite everyone to show solidarity with the Kurds and the prisoners."