MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed- A hunger strike was started by political prisoners across Turkey on November 27, 2023 to demand “freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a resolution to the Kurdish question”. After the hunger strike that lasted three months, the political prisoners started a new action by refusing the visits by their lawyers and family members on April 4. Since then the political prisoners have refused the visits by their lawyers and family members while the “Be the voice freedom” protest started by their relatives continues.

The political prisoners criticize the silence against their demands and call on everyone to be in solidarity with them and be the voice of their demands in letters they send to their relatives. Since April 4, the relatives of the political prisoners have gathered in front of the prison in Amed as part of the “be the voice of freedom” protest, demanding a permanent and effective solution. NuJINHA spoke to some mothers gathering in front of the prison.

‘Peace and tranquility can be achieved through dialogue’

Sebahat Irmak, mother of one of the political prisoners, demanded the end of the isolation imposed on political prisoners and in the prison island of Imrali, calling on everyone to support them. “All we want is an honorable peace. We are here to prevent more mothers from suffering anymore. The prisoners started an action for all of us. Our children suffer from poverty, torture and all kinds of oppression. The use of all kinds of drugs and heroin is allowed so that Kurdish children do not say ‘We are Kurdish’,” said Sebahat Irmak. “Enough is enough. No peace and tranquility will be achieved in Türkiye, Kurdistan and all around the world until the isolation is lifted. Peace and tranquility can be only achieved through dialogue. I call on all people to support the political prisoners to end the isolation.”

‘No results will be obtained by denying and ignoring’

Ferah Akbulut thinks isolation is a method of torture. Calling on everyone to stand with the prisoners against torture, she said, “We came here to support the prisoners. The prisoners are subjected to serious rights violations and we are here to say no to the rights violations. This isolation is imposed on not only the Kurdish people but also everyone demanding peace and democracy. An isolation has been imposed on Mr. Abdullah Öcalan for years; he has not been allowed to see his lawyers and family members. No results will be obtained by denying and ignoring. We will keep standing with the political prisoners to the end.”

 ‘We do not know what is happening in prisons’

Behiye Sevim pointed to the suspicious deaths and torture in prisons. “The isolation has become more aggravated every day. The political prisoners must be immediately released. We are mothers and say mothers should not cry anymore. However, our demand for peace is not heard. Prisoners are killed in prison but their death are recorded as suicide. We do not know what is happening in prisons now. I call on all mothers to unite and stop this massacre. We will stand with our children to the end. We will struggle for our children to the end.”