Isolation Prisons and Resistance In Turkey

Around three years ago, the Turkish state silently constructed a new type of prison. These are known as S, R, and Y-type prisons.

The first inmates placed in these prisons were those convicted in PKK (Workers’ Party of Kurdistan), IS (Islamic State), and FETÖ (Gulen Movement) cases, and no public information was shared about these newly built facilities.

However, in 2023, prisoners from the DHKC (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front) case were transferred to these so-called “Well-Type” prisons, bringing them to public attention.

WHY WERE THESE PRISONS BUILT SECRETLY?

Because when F-Type prisons were opened on December 19, 2000, the Turkish state launched a simultaneous and bloody operation in 20 prisons. Mockingly calling the massacre a “Return to Life” operation, they killed 28 prisoners.

This drew international condemnation and put Turkey in a difficult position.

Now, they aim to eliminate prisoners without shedding a drop of blood, leaving no trace—executing a silent death.

In Well-Type prisons, people are buried alive.

Since prison administrations operate autonomously, there are variations in management. However, the general conditions can be described as follows:

• A 6-square-meter cell, 23 hours alone in the cell, 1 hour alone in the yard.
• The cell and yard are on different floors. The prisoner must endure snow, rain, dust, and sun in the yard for 1.5 hours.
• 23 hours in total isolation inside the cell.
• If the prison administration allows, they may spend 1-1.5 hours in the yard with two other prisoners—always the same ones.
• Total isolation, constant surveillance under 24-hour cameras.

The goal is to eliminate prisoners out of sight and out of mind.

RESISTANCE

Revolutionary prisoners immediately started hunger strikes. When their demands were ignored, they escalated to death fasts.

So far, every resistance has succeeded. Prisoners have been transferred back to F-Type prisons, where they can be with their comrades.

However, the hunger strikes are extremely prolonged, typically lasting 200 days.

Prisoners are often deprived of vital B1 vitamins, either entirely or only provided after 100 days—by which point permanent damage has already occurred.

Eventually, the Turkish state accepts the demands, but at a severe cost. Their unspoken message is:

“If you resist, you will be left disabled.”

Moreover, the Turkish state, learning from its masters in the U.S. and the EU, employs more insidious tactics to break resistance.

They partially grant demands but demand compromises in return.

The goal is to erode the spirit of resistance. If a political prisoner begins to think, “Why resist? Maybe I can solve my problems through dialogue with the administration,” then the resistance dynamic is weakened.

But revolutionary prisoners see through all the imperialist and collaborationist tricks.

The Turkish state imposes a brutal choice on prisoners:
“Surrender or die.”

And revolutionary prisoners respond:
“Victory or death.”

CURRENT SITUATION

So far, 10 prisoners have managed to secure their transfer out of Well-Type prisons through resistance.

Currently, 9 prisoners are on indefinite hunger strike.

On March 30, Fikret Akar, held in Çorlu Y-Type Prison, will begin an indefinite hunger strike.

When the prison administration threatened to deny sugar and B1 vitamins, he responded:

“Then I will stop drinking water as well.”

Fikret Akar is likely to face serious health problems in the first days of his strike.

Supporting his right to resist is now an urgent responsibility.

We must be the voice, breath, hands, and feet of Fikret Akar and other revolutionary prisoners in resistance.

This can be done by:

• Joining solidarity hunger strikes
• Sending symbolic candies to the prison
• Writing letters and postcards to prisoners
• Calling or faxing the prison administration
• Recording and sharing videos and photos in support of the demands
• Raising awareness everywhere

ISOLATION IS TORTURE, AND TORTURE IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.

Contact Information:

📌 Fikret Akar
Karatepe Y.G. Prison
A13
Çorlu/Tekirdağ
Turkey

📌 Çorlu Y-Type Prison
📞 Tel: +90 282 651 47 65
📠 Fax: +90 282 654 60 90
📩 Email: karatepe.ygkcik@adalet.gov.tr

📌 Turkish Ministry of Justice
📞 Tel: +90 312 417 77 70
📠 Fax: +90 312 419 33 70
📩 Email: info@adalet.gov.tr