Women visit the Justice Vigil in Van: “We will continue to resist”

The Justice Vigil, which was started by families in the Van Bar Association in order to demand the release of the sick prisoners, is now on its 55th day. Diba Keskin, former Co-Mayor of HDP Erciş Municipality, and members of the Van Women’s Platform paid visits to the prisoners’ relatives today.

Keskin, who spoke during the visit, remarked that the injustice of the prisoners has been going on for years and that there are thousands of sick prisoners in the country’s prisons who are on the verge of death. “I bow respectfully before your fight,” Keskin stated, expressing their support for the vigil.

‘WHAT IS DONE TO THE PRISONERS IS TORTURE’

Van Sevim Çiçek, Secretary of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV), spoke on behalf of the Van Women’s Platform, emphasizing the families’ need for justice. “It is a shame for Turkey that families are on justice vigil here. It is not appropriate in a democratic state of law to dismiss any voices, while at least 780 people are being detained in prison and the deaths of very ill prisoners are growing more frequent,” Çiçek said, and added that what is done to the prisoners is torture.

Rojbin Bor, a member of the STAR Women’s Association, told the women on the vigil that, “We know your strength. The government is well aware of your power. The world has seen what your strength and determination can accomplish. The hunger strike was successful thanks to your efforts. We are extremely proud of you.  We are lucky to have mothers like you. We support you until the very end.”

‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO RESIST’

Dilşah Alkan, the wife of İbrahim Alkan, said that their action has left two months behind, and added, “It made me proud today that so many women came to see us together. We are right in our demands. We will fight until the very end. Even if we have a drop of blood left in our bodies, we will remain vigilant and resist until we attain our goal. We are not afraid of anyone because we are right.”