ANKARA - Prisoner Ayşe Topçu stated that their aim in the action is to ensure the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, who fought not only for the Kurds but also for all oppressed peoples, and called on the public to expand the struggle.

 

The hunger strikes that started on November 27 in prisons within the scope of the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, democratic solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign continue on April 4, with boycotting the courts and not making phone calls to their families. Ayşe Topçu, one of the prisoners who participated in the action from Sincan Women's Prison, called for support for the action with the letter she sent to our agency.

 

Stating that the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan has continued for 25 years, Topçu said: “We have neither heard nor seen a prisoner living in such severe isolation conditions anywhere in the world. However, Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, the philosopher, politician and leader of the age, who has been held hostage in the Imrali prison under intense isolation for years and whose thoughts and philosophy brought hope to the people of the Middle East and the world, is being held in harsh conditions. There are many reasons why it is held in harsh conditions. One of them; Turkey and other hegemonic states know how correct and important Mr. Öcalan's paradigm is. Isolation conditions have continued for years because the paradigm is that they will raise the flag of bankruptcy, or rather will accelerate the collapse."

 

INSISTING ON POLITICAL HOSTAGE POLICY

 

Pointing out that communication rights such as lawyers, family, telephone, friend calls and letters have been prohibited in Imrali Prison for years, “Any news from outside has been blocked; In other words, all ties with society have been cut. It was prevented by creating excuses out of nothing. Normally, what I have stated is a fundamental right given to all detainees and prisoners in the Penal Execution Law No. 5275. Unfortunately, this Law No. 5275 is not implemented in Imrali in any way. Failure to implement this law constitutes a crime. In private; It was stated that blocking the visits of lawyers, family and friends, and blocking their phone calls and letters were disciplinary penalties. There has been no news from Mr. Öcalan for 39 months. In addition, although our friend Veysi Aktaş, who is held in Imrali on April 28, 2024, should have been released, his execution was arbitrarily extended. This shows that when it comes to Kurdish political prisoners, the law is completely put aside. This reveals the government's insistence on its political hostage policy" Topçu said.

 

'THE SOLUTION COMES WITH ÖCALAN'S FREEDOM'

 

Stating that the Kurds and their supporters have been protesting and struggling for years to demand both the end of the isolation and the freedom of Öcalan, Topçu stated that the isolation has serious effects both on the prisons and on the outside, and said: "Experiencing such aggravated isolation, insistence on war, the crisis in the country and The government is solely responsible for the chaos. The elimination of these will only be possible with the abolishing of the isolation, Mr. Öcalan's physical freedom and the democratization of Turkey."

 

Topçu said that Öcalan had many suggestions regarding the democratization of Turkey and that the issues could be resolved if there was a democratic negotiation, adding: "But what the government understands from democracy is; ignoring the existence and will of the Kurds. No one can ignore a people or the value of the people."

 

ARBITRATORY DISCIPLINARY PUNISHMENTS

 

Stating that, as political prisoners, they experienced an isolation almost similar to that applied in the Imrali Island system, Topçu continued: “Let's avoid arbitrary disciplinary punishments; We are faced with arbitrary attitudes, from all kinds of tortures that violate human dignity, to the treatment of ill prisoners, and finally, to unlawful executions. And we live in such conditions. The sole purpose of insisting on these conditions is; Intimidating, tormenting, political prisoners are expected to deny their true nature, express regret and ask for their own 'pardon'. Of course, there is something the system forgets; It is also the flag of resistance handed down to political prisoners from the past. This flag of resistance will fly until Mr. Öcalan regains his physical freedom and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue is achieved."

 

'WE TAKE OUR POWER FROM COMMITMENT TO THE STRUGGLE'

 

Stating that the sources of morale and motivation come from the commitment to the struggle, Topçu said: “Again, the tremendous resistance of Mr. Öcalan and the struggle of our valuable comrades with him, the struggle of our patriotic people and friends outside, the magnificent actions of the freedom fighters and finally our comrades held captive in dungeons derive their source from the honorable stance and spirit of unity.  Our purpose and desire in this ongoing action and all other actions; We aim to ensure that Mr. Öcalan, who has been fighting not only for the Kurds but also for all other oppressed peoples for years and who is the guarantor of peace, regains his physical freedom as soon as possible and the solution of the Kurdish issue through a democratic way.”

 

CALL TO ENLARGE THE STRUGGLE

 

Topçu made the following call regarding the action: “Our call to our precious families, our people and the people of the world is; more blending of the fire of freedom. They need to rebel and say stop to the oppression and torture that has been inflicted on the Kurds for years. İssue; It is the issue of all of us. In other words, it is not just the issue of the family and society that have sacrificed for the sake of the struggle and are still doing so. Falling fire does not burn a single place. And it doesn't burn. Therefore, my request from our conscious, conscientious, valuable families, brothers, friends and comrades is; They need to expand the struggle. I send my greetings and love from here again and say that this is the time for unity and freedom.”