A long-running hunger strike by Turkish prisoners against high-security new jails claimed its 55th victim when a woman inmate died at the weekend, a human rights activist said on Monday.
Gulnihal Yilmaz (34) died at a prison in western Turkey where she was serving time for membership of an extreme-left underground group, the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party Front (DHKP-C), a representative for the Turkish Human Rights Association told AFP.
The DHKP-C is believed to be the main inciter of the protest, launched nearly two years ago by mainly leftist inmates in protest at the introduction of new jails in which one- to three-person cells replaced large dormitories for dozens of inmates.
The protestors have been fasting on a rotating basis, taking only liquids with sugar and salt as well as vitamin supplements to prolong their lives.
Backed by rights groups, the strikers say the new jails leaves them socially isolated and more vulnerable to torture and maltreatment.
The government, however, has categorically ruled out a return to the dormitory system, arguing that it was the main reason behind frequent riots and hostage-taking incidents in the country’s unruly jails.
Support for the strike has faded in the face of Ankara’s tough stance and only about 30 inmates linked to the DHKP-C are currently fasting.
The death toll from the strike includes both prisoners and outside supporters of the movement.
Apart from those who have starved to death, four prisoners burned themselves to death in support of the strike and another four people died last November in a police raid on an Istanbul house occupied by hunger strikers. – Sapa-AFP