Prisoner on hunger strike for the fifth time: It will continue until our demands are met 

2021-02-20 11:50:26


	BATMAN - Political prisoner Şakir Akkurt, who has been on hunger strike for the 5th time since he was imprisoned in 1992, said that they will not stop the ongoing action without getting results.

	 

	An indefinite rotating hunger strike was launched by the prisoners on November 27, 2020 against the violations of rights in prisons and the isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. The hunger strike taken over by the 17th group, continues on its 86th day. Şakir Akkurt from Batman is on a hunger strike for the fifth time since 1992. Akkurt called for solidarity in order for the action to succeed. Akkurt who is behind bars for 28 years has been tortured for 2 months when he was first sent to prison, said his sister Şükran Akkurt.

	 

	MONTHS OF TORTURE

	 

	Noting that his brother was sentenced to life imprisonment when he was 21 years old, Akkurt said, “He was subjected to torture three times. They pulled out his teeth. They electrocuted him so bad that he could not walk. When he was first taken in 1992, he was tortured for 33 days. He was tortured for 11 days the second time he was taken and 40 days during the third detention. There's no method of torture they did not try on him.  When it was finished, an arrest warrant was issued for him."

	 

	VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS CONTINUE

	 

	Underlining that her brother never submitted to persecution in his 28 years in prison, Akkurt said he was transferred from prison to prison in this 28 years. Stating that her brother joined the hunger strikes in 1996, 2000, 2012 and 2018, Akkurt said he is currently held in Akhisar Type T Closed Prison and the violations of rights are increasing day by day.

	 

	'WHY ARE YOU REMAINING SILENT?'

	 

	Stating that her brother asked her why everyone is remaining silent, Akkurt said: "He told me they will turn the hunger strike into a non-rotating hunger strike if the society does not respond. We, the people who are outside, must support this resistance. We can not allow people die in prisons."

	 

	'THERE IS NO OTHER WAY'

	 

	Underlining that the four hunger strikes her brother participated ended in success, Akkurt said: "He told me this hunger strike will also end in success. He said there is no other way than going on a hunger strike in prison. He called for support for all institutions and organizations."