Medya Üren 

 

MARDİN - Saying that the seriously sick prisoner Ahmet Çelik is getting worse, his wife Hazal Çelik wanted the isolation and persecution directly related to this situation to end.

 

Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) and Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) prisoners started a hunger strike on November 27, 2020, against the end of the aggravated isolation on PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and the violations of rights in the prisons. While the protest has been going on for 209 days, violations of rights continue. While the isolation policies are spreading to all prisons, families have not been able to meet with the prisoners as open for months due to the pandemic, and closed meetings are limited.

 

Ahmet Çelik, who was battered and detained in the police raid on his house in 2015 and tortured for days, is a seriously sick prisoner. It was learned that Ahmet's brain, who has been unable to walk for six years due to the torture he was subjected to, is getting smaller and has not been treated. Hazal Çelik, who said that there was no other solution other than the release of Ahmet, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison, and starting treatment, noted that her husband was blatantly pushed to death.

 

Stating that the violations of rights against political prisoners are increasing day by day, Hazal said that in the phone call she made with her husband, his voice was getting worse and that there were many violations in prisons. Stating that the food was bad, there was not enough water for bathing, the sick prisoners were not taken to the hospital or the infirmary, Hazal pointed out that the families were also devastated outside.

 

‘He cannot walk anymore’

 

Reminding that her husband Ahmet was battered and taken into custody in front of his children, Hazal said that since her husband was arrested, they have also been struggling economically. Stating that she has four children, Hazal said that the eldest is 17-year-old and she/he can only go to daily work because is studying at school. Stating that she is trying to raise her children with great difficulties. ‘’What right do they have to make us experience this?’’ she asked. Stating that her family and her husband's family had been supportive before, but due to the pandemic in the last one year, all of them have economically affected and can no longer receive support from anyone, Hazal said: ‘’My children miss their father, but we cannot even go to see him. My husband now has trouble even walking. He walks with the help of his friends. His brain is getting smaller.’’

 

‘We must break the isolation’

 

Stating that the isolation has now spread to both prisons and society, Hazal said: ‘’What we are experiencing is oppression. Which humanity has this? Let the isolation on the prisoners be lifted. Let sick prisoners be treated and released. Families are no longer miserable. A solution must be found as soon as possible. There are hundreds of sick prisoners and all of them are in serious condition. Against this, both the people and the political parties need to do something. We must be a voice for the prisoners. We must break the isolation.’’