Hunger Strikes in Turkish Prisons: Information Note

The hunger strike protests of political prisoners in Turkish penitentiary institutions have reached a critical point. The protest was initiated in Izmir Şakran High Security Prison on 15 February 2017 to draw attention to gross human rights violations and inhumane living conditions in prisons, the isolation on the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and Erdoğan-AKP Government’s renewed politics violence and war in the Kurdish issue. It soon spread to other prisons across Turkey.
 

  • Currently, as of April 10, about 187 political prisoners continue indefinite and non-alternate hunger strikes in 20 different penitentiary institutions. Thirtyseven of the protesting prisoners are women.

Indefinite Hunger Strikes (10 April 2017)

Start Date Prison Facility # of Prisoners on Strike On day #
15 February Şakran T2 8 55
15 February Şakran T3 5 55
22 February Şakran Women’s Ward 5 48
23 February Şakran Women’s Ward 7 47
1March Şakran T4 8 41
08 March Tekirdağ T-1 10 34
15 March Tarsus Women’s Ward 5 27
22 March Şakran T4 7 20
27 March Bolu F Type 10 15
30 March Antalya L Type 5 12
1 April Hatay T Type 11 8
3 April Sincan Women’s Ward 9 7
4 April Kepsut 6 7
5 April Menemen 4 7
5 April Gebze M Tipi 7 7
5 April Silivri 5 No’lu 10 7
5 April Bandırma 21 6
5 April Şakran T-3 (2.Group) 5 6
6 April Kırıklar F-2 12 6
6 April Şakran T-2 (2.Group) 12 6
6 April ŞakranKadın (2.Group) 2 6
7 April Kandıra F-1 5 5
  • In addition to the indefinite and non-alternate protests tabled above, political prisoners carry out five-day-long alternating solidarity hunger strikes in several other facilities since March 15.

 

  • Whereas prison administrations have so far remained non-responsive to these calls, arbitrary pressures on protesting prisoners continue extensively, as further source of risk to their health and lives.

Notes:
Reports are based on the data gathered from HDP deputies, Human Rights Association (IHD), Prisons Solidarity Initiative (ZDI), Libertarian Lawyers Platform (ÖHP), Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), Union of Turkish Doctors (TTB),and several other non-governmental organizations advocating for prisoners’ rights, and confirmed news inthe media and press.As HDP Prison Committee, we are following the hunger strikes very closely. We will continue to update the national and international public about hunger strikes and prison conditions.