IZMIR - On the 13th day of indefinite alternating hunger strikes in prisons because  of the continuing isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, stating that the Ministry of Justice should take responsibility about the hunger strike to end it, Peace Mothers stated that the initiation of the negotiations will beneficial for both Turkish and Kurdish peoples.

 

A large number of prisoners started an indefinite alternating hunger strike on November 27, against imposed  the aggravated isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the violations of rights that increased in prisons on the pretext of epidemic. Third group took over the hunger strike yesterday, which entered its 13th day. Women from Initiative of İzmir Peace Mothers pointed out that not only the families of the hunger strikers but also everyone should take responsibility to end the hunger strikes. Initiative of İzmir Peace Mothers Spokesperson Behiye Yalçın stated that the responsibility belongs to the Ministry of Justice, while Hanife Gümüş, whose son is in prison, pointed out that fulfilling the demands of the hunger strikers will bring peace.

 

'Their demands are humane and must be accepted'

 

Noting that the state is responsible to people in prisons, Behiye said that before their children lose their lives the demands must be accepted by the Ministry of Justice. Behiye said, “They have nothing , they just have their bodies, but they can resist to this persecution with their bodies. However, their bodies were unable to afford even this hunger strike.  Their health is not well.  During this hunger strike, the bodies of our children can go outside with deaths. Their demands are humane and these demands must be accepted. In the pandemic, the government released all the gangs (also rapers, killers)  but did not released our children because they are there because of politics. Despite the coronavirus, they do not even release a sick mother who cannot stand on her feet. We want this hunger strike to end without growing. Responsibility is belongs to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice should accept these demands. We do not want to take the coffins of our children from prisons. ”.

 

'Our children have been in prison for a long time and they are sick'

 

Hanife Gümüş, the mother of Mehmet Nezir Gümüş, who has been in prison for 22 years and is currently in Buca Kırıklar Prison, stated that they cannot visit their children in prison due to the pandemic and that they cannot use weekly phone right mostly.  Because  phone calls are constantly interrupted. Hanife said, “It is not clear what my son said on the phone. My son has been in prison for a long time and has been on hunger strike for 4 months before. They are already sick because they have been in prison for a long time. Most of them have diseases such as diabetes, stomach and teeth problems. We need to find a solution together with whose relative is arrested. Today my child is inside. Let the families of the other prisoners come together. Other people should support it too. We should take precautions before our children and young people reach worse results”.

 

‘Isolation is applied to the whole society‘

 

Emphasizing that the isolation initiated on Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı firstly and applied to whole society and then was applied in all prisons on the  pretext of the pandemic, Hanife said  “There is pressure on our deputies, our presidents too. They are all in prisons. There is no such cruelty in any other state. Nobody stays in prison for political ideas for 28 years. The Turkish state has no conscience. If it were any other where, it would be maximum 20 years.  People staying in prisons for 30 years in Turkey. The Ministry of Justice should open their eyes to prisons reality. The state needs to find a solution. They release the gangsters and raper but not our children without guilts.’’. 

 

'The only solution to sit down and make an agreement'

 

Stating that the initiation of the negotiations will produce positive results for both Turks and Kurds, Hanife said “Nobody benefits from this war. Let open eyes to see them. The only solution to this is to sit down and make an agreement. This war is enough. May the demands of our children be fulfilled, so that the Kurdish and Turkish people live in peace ”.