Prisoners in Mardin launch hunger strike

Inmates in Mardin E Type Closed Prison have launched an indefinite-rotating hunger strike to protest the arbitrary practices of the prison administration and violations of their rights. It is reported that the hunger strike will be carried out by a group of 3 people in 5-day rotations.

Following a meeting with the prisoners, their lawyers stated that the hunger strike had been started yesterday (Feb. 21) and that Suphi Söylemez, Ali Tuna and Derviş Akyürek were the first prisoners to join the hunger strike.

PRISONERS’ DEMANDS

The prisoners listed their demands as follows:

“* The prison administration should lift the imposition of impartial wards and abandon the practices aimed at breaking the will of the detainees,

* Sick detainees should receive proper treatment and their transfer to hospitals should be taken care of regularly.

* Maltreatment, which is incompatible with human dignity, during hospital referrals should be stopped.

* Arbitrary decisions of the Administration and Monitoring Board should be halted and prisoners who have completed their execution should be released urgently.

* The right to socialize, which was restricted or completely removed following the pandemic outbreak, should be reintroduced.