ANKARA - Hunger Strikes Monitoring General Coordination stated that the demands of prisoners on hunger strike should be taken into account and called on national and international organizations to "take action".
Hunger Strikes Monitoring General Coordination held a press conference at the Human Rights Association (IHD) Headquarters regarding the rotating hunger strike initiated by prisoners since November 27 within the scope of the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign.
Members of İHD, Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD), Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and MED ED Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations of Detainees and Convict Families (MED TUHAD-FED) attended the meeting.
'THE RIGHT TO HEALTH OF THE PRISONERS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE'
Speaking at the meeting, ÖHD member Lawyer Çiğdem Kozan called on institutions to protect the right to health of prisoners on hunger strike and said: “All rights of prisoners, especially their dignity, right to life and right to health, are the responsibility of the state. If these substances, which should be consumed at minimum levels, are restricted, it will cause permanent damage to the brain functions of prisoners and even death, as in the hunger strikes of previous years."
CALL TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Stating that international organizations, as well as institutions in Turkey, should fulfill their responsibilities, Kozan said: “As human rights and legal organizations, we closely monitor prisons due to the ongoing hunger strikes, make visits through lawyers, convey demands to the political power, and ensure that democratic public opinion becomes more active. We would like to share with the public that we are taking initiatives to ensure that the international community and international organizations fulfill their responsibilities, that we are doing our best to ensure that those on hunger strike are not harmed and that the isolation is lifted."
'THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ACTION'
Drawing attention to the state and the political power should take the necessary measures through peaceful means and take action to evaluate the demands in order not to add new ones to social pain and to avoid social rupture, as was painfully experienced in the hunger strike actions in the past. Kozan said: "We invite all authorities, especially the Ministry of Justice, as well as national and international law and human rights institutions, to be sensitive as soon as possible in order to approach the problem based on fundamental rights and freedoms and to evaluate and resolve the demands accordingly."