HAKKARİ - Stating that the isolation and violations of rights should end as soon as possible in all prisons, especially in Imrali, Hakkari HDP Central District Co-Chair Sinem Seven reminded that political prisoners are subjected to arbitrary practices with the new execution regulation.

 

The indefinite-alternating hunger strike launched by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) prisoners against the aggravated isolation imposed on PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, ensuring his physical freedom and increasing rights violations in prisons continues on its 186th day. While no positive or negative response has been given by the authorities to the demands of the prisoners, on the contrary, the violations of rights are getting worse day by day. With the amendment to the execution law adopted by the parliament on April 14, 2020, prison administrations were given the authority to evaluate prisoners. Prison administration and observation boards formed by the prison administrations and will decide to conditional release and passing to open prison for those who sentenced to 10 years or more and those convicted of "terror crimes", "establishing, directing or being a member of a terror organization". These boards began to prolong the execution of political prisoners at certain periods.

 

‘Isolation must be lifted’

 

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Hakkari central district co-chair Sinem Seven said that political prisoners face arbitrary practices. Reminding that there has been an aggravated isolation on PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan for 22 years, Sinem underlined that the isolation is being carried out in the person of the Kurdish people. Sinem said: "Our friends have been on an indefinite-alternating hunger strike in prisons for 183 days against the aggravated isolation. The indefinite-alternating hunger strikes are even more severe during the pandemic period. Due to illness, our friends cannot be treated and fed well, and the isolation on the leadership must be lifted for these hunger strikes to end."

 

‘Harasser, rapist and mafia took advantage of good conduct time’

 

Sinem said that ‘good conduct’ time were applied in prisons due to the pandemic, but that political prisoners could not benefit from this. Sinem stated: "The good conduct time was applied to those who were being tried or punished about the harassment, rape, and drug crimes. It was not applied to political prisoners. The only ‘crime’ of political prisoners was their pursuit of rights, law, and justice. Unfortunately, political prisoners could not benefit from the good conduct time."

 

‘Sick prisoners were left to die in prisons’

 

Reminding that there are many sick prisoners over the age of 65 in prisons, Sinem said: "There are countless sick prisoners who are at risk of losing an eye, have cancer, are disabled and are confined to bed. But they cannot take advantage of the ‘good conduct’ time. While political prisoners and seriously ill prisoners should have benefited from the ‘good conduct’ time, unfortunately, abusers, rapists, thieves, and mafias benefited. Sick prisoners were left to die in prisons. Our only common wish is for the aggravated isolation to end now."