Şehriban Aslan / JINHA

SÊRT- The conditions of political prisoners haven’t changed for years despite the changed period in Kurdistan and Turkey. Maşallah Işık Arslan stated that her son lost his life due to the conditions in the prison. “They added something in food of my son in prison. My son was taken to infirmary; however, the doctors sent him back by saying he had influenza even if they knew my son had cancer. They gave him medicine for influenza and my son died,” said Maşallah.

Political prisoners are the primary of those who have suffered of the biggest challenges in war continues over 40 years in Kurdistan and Turkey. The political prisoners have been subjected to torture, atrocity and oppression in each changing process. Hundreds of sick prisoners have been left for dead while waiting for being treated or released. One of these prisoners is Abdülmecit Arslan, son of Maşallah Işık Arslan, who is one of members Siirt Peace Mothers Assembly. Maşallah said her son was arrested after being with the PKK for five years, “My son was held in prison for eight years. Then, he had cancer due to wrong drugs given by the doctors and passed away.

“My son was held in Muş Prison for three months after being arrested. He was sent to Van F Type Prison. He was held there for four years and then he was sent back to Muş. He launched a hunger strike in Muş Prison. He was sent to Tekirdağ for attending the hunger strike. I don’t what they added to his food there; however, he became sick there. He wasn’t allowed to use phone, to see us and send letter for attending the hunger strike there. He had cancer that time, but we didn’t know that. The state didn’t report us that. When he was taken to infirmary, the doctor sent him back by saying he had influenza even if they knew my son had cancer. The drugs given by the doctor made the condition of my son worse.

“One day, my son was taken to infirmary again; there was another doctor and he found out my son had cancer. The doctor told my son, “Abdülmecit, you are still young and you can be saved, I will send you to Istanbul for treatment”. I went the prison to see my son after the bans were ended. He looked very bad. I asked him what happened to him. He told me he was just a little bit ill. Then, I learned that my son had cancer. Many of our deputies stepped in for my son. The state allowed my son to go out from the prison for just six months and five days. It was too late to treat, cancer cells spread around all his body. My son passed away. The state sent us a document six months later to call my son to prison. I told them, “How my son can come, he fell a martyr.”

Maşallah noted that she would fight for her son by taking all legal actions. Maşallah said, “We, as Kurdish women, will never give up no matter how they give us a hard time. We are here with the struggle carried out by our children. No one should expect us to give up.”

(ma/gd)