Zeynep Akın-Hülya Okalin/JINHA

ÊLIH - Families of female political prisoners, who were expelled to Tarsus Closed Prison, told us about the pressure on prisoners. According to statement of families, seven female prisoners began hunger strike due to bad conditions in Tarsus Closed Prison and they have been banned from seeing their families and they have been taken into solitary confinement. A Soldier threatened a female prisoner who was taken from Mardin Prison to hospital six months ago, with sexual torture by saying, "We would rape you if we were in 1990s."

The pressure on political prisoners becomes violent after clashes period began. As prisoners tell the pressure they face to their families, they criticize the silence of people. Members of female political prisoners' families Sehrete Bozkurt and Sümeyye Bitmen told the pressure and practices imposed in the prisons to JINHA. They called on popular opinion to take action against ongoing pressure.

Sister of Selma Bozkurt, who has been in prison for six and a half year, Sehrete Bozkurt stated that her sister was exiled from Adana Karataş Closed Prison to Tarsus Closed Prison two months ago and the prisoners have constantly exposed to arbitrary practices. Sehrete said, "They put my sister in male wards before she was exiled to Tarsus. The wards were very dirty and damp. 'The pressure is increasing whenever a police or soldier die. We cannot go to hospital because we are exposed to pressure and hostile attitudes on the way of hospital.' Selma told her sister."

Sehrete reported that prisoners began a three-day hunger strike and this strike is a warning. If the pressure is increased, the prisoners will turn the hunger strike into an idenfinite- irreversible hunger strike. Sehrete reacted to the practices and said, "Prison management should give up imposing this inhuman pressure and public opinion should be more aware towards the conditions of the prisoners."

Sister of Berivan Bitmen, who has been in prison for one year, Sümeyye Bitmen said that Berivan was exiled from Mardin Closed Prison to Tarsus Closed Prison two and half months ago. Sümeyye stated that the decision of exile was taken in 10 minutes and the prisoners were headlong into exile at midnight. She said, "They couldn't even take their stuff. We sent her some stuff after they were exiled; however they haven't been given the stuff. Seven female political prisoners, including Berivan, began hunger strike due to ongoing bad conditions. They have been been banned from seeing their families and they have been taken into solitary confinement. We don't know how long these bans continue.

"A Soldier threatened a female prisoner who was taken from Mardin Prison to hospital six months ago, with sexual torture by saying, "We would rape you if we were in 1990s." the female prisoner looked into the eyes of the soldier. The soldier asked her "Why are you looking me?" The female prisoner answered him as, "I note your face in my memory." A lawsuit has been filed against the female prisoner due to her response. Everyone should raise their voice for political prisoners right now. We'll stand with the prisoners either way. We'll help them to reach their goal."

(sy/gd)