The aggravated isolation regime against the PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is spreading to all prisons in Turkey, and rights violations are increasing in jails every day. While 7 prisoners lost their lives in prison in only one month in 2021, the Justice Minister has given no explanation about the deaths in question. As a part of rights violations, inhumane approaches of authorities towards ill prisoners denied release caused serious public reaction. The vigil launched by families in Diyarbakır and Van, demanding justice for ill prisoners and those who are denied release despite completing their sentences, is still continuing.

The Peace Mothers and families of prisoners in Diyarbakır, Van, Çukurova, Mardin, Siirt, Batman and Şırnak went to Ankara to draw attention to the situation of prisoners. Mothers will attend the parliamentary group meeting of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and then will pay a series of visits to express their demands for ill prisoners and against rights violations in jails.

Families of prisoners and Peace Mothers from Van and Hakkari spoke to JinNews.

‘We came to Ankara to achieve justice’

Stating that they came to Ankara in order to reach everyone who has not heard their voice so far, Fazilet Polat said, “Sick prisoners are being denied access to medical treatment. There are thousands of prisoners who cannot live on their own. We have been in action for years. We came here to demand an end to this. We do not want one more death case in jails. We do not want to search for our children’s bones anymore. We, too, are citizens of this country. From various cities, we came to the capital of Turkey to achieve justice. We ask all mothers in Turkey to pay attention to the demands of Kurdish mothers.”

‘Sick prisoners are deprived of medical treatment’

Makbule Aşkan, elder sister of Deviş Aşkan who has been held in Patnos Prison for 8 years, pointed out that prisoners cannot benefit from their fundamental rights in jails, saying, “Sick prisoners are being denied access to medical treatment; all of them lose their lives one by one. We demand sick prisoners be released immediately.”

Call upon mothers: Hear our voice

Pointing to the urgency of sick prisoners’ situation, Gülçin Karabük from Yüksekova Peace Mothers Assembly said, “The isolation in jails, especially on Imralı Island, must be lifted immediately. We have come all this way in order to achieve justice. Despite everything, we will continue to insist on demanding peace. What crime did prisoners commit? They only struggled for their identity and people. The only reason for so many death cases in jails is the hostility against the Kurds. We only demand justice for the people living within four walls.”

Gülçin lastly called upon all mothers in the country to pay attention to their demands and support their struggle.