Prisoner's mother says enforcement law should include everyone

Aysel Ateş' son, Mehmet Veysel Ateş, has been in Diyarbakır D-Type Prison for 6 years. "We do not know the situation of our children - said the mother - during this coronavirus outbreak."

The Covid-19 pandemic is taking its toll around the world, claiming thousands of lives every day.

In Kurdistan and Turkey the number of people who have contracted the virus is growing quickly and thus is the number of dead. 

As concerns arise among people, the families of prisoners have double reasons to be concerned given the failure of the AKP-MHP regime to approve an enforcement law which includes political prisoners.

Mehmet Veysel Ateş has been in Diyarbakır D-Type Prison for 6 years. His mother, Aysel Ateş, said that she could not make sense of the fact that political prisoners are being excluded from the law of execution.

Aysel Ateş said she was very worried because at least before, despite all difficulties, they were able to visit their children, while now visits have been suspended. 

"We accept that we cannot visit our children because of the coronavirus outbreak. However, it is not acceptable for us that this enforcement law does not cover political prisoners. I would like to said that we are not asking for an amnesty for our children, because they have done nothing to be forgiven for."

Emphasizing that the coronavirus epidemic affects everyone, young, old, rich or poor Aysel Ateş said: "The virus is affecting everyone. But in prison cells are overcrowded, the food is bad. The only ventilation place is very small. We haven't been talking to my son for 2 months. But last time we talked on the phone, he said that the situation was serious there."

Aysel Ateş said that they will support every campaign for the political prisoners to benefit from the enforcement law regulation. "I find these campaigns very useful and human."

Aysel Ateş ended her remarks by saying: "I also believe that all people who call themselves 'democrats' should offer support. I especially call on the CHP, stand by your promises. The CHP does not stand by what it says and plays blind, deaf, dumb.

The MHP wants the rapists and mercenaries to come out of jail. The AKP, CHP and MHP talk about right and law. If they were fair, they wouldn't leave so many people to die. The prisoners have spouses and children, they have families. My granddaughter says, 'When will my father come home? I call out to all prisoners' mothers; we have to be united, because if we don't save our children, nobody will. We don't have much time."