ARTICLE: Serkan Onur YILMAZ on the verge to death

BIANET: “Serkan Onur Yılmaz is on the verge of death, his demands must be met”

(Original: Serkan Onur Yılmaz ölüm sınırında, talepleri karşılanmalı)

The Istanbul Branch Prisons Commission of the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) made a press statement for Serkan Onur Yılmaz, who is on a hunger strike demanding the closure of pit-type prisons in Bolu F Type Prison.

Ali Hasan Akgül, who was released on June 17 from Sincan High Security Prison, where he had been on hunger strike for 145 days, also attended the statement made at the Istanbul Bar Association’s Cultural Center in Galata. The first speaker at the meeting was lawyer Balım İdil Deniz.

Deniz informed that 9 political prisoners are currently on an indefinite hunger strike in pit-type prisons. Then she mentioned that Serkan Onur Yılmaz was the longest-running hunger striker among them.

Yılmaz now has difficulty walking, has difficulty sleeping, and has wounds on his hands, feet and back, and said, “Serious nerve pain has started.” She then added:

“Currently, the death fast and indefinite hunger strike resisters are demanding that they and their friends be transferred to a non-pit-type prison. These demands are satisfiable.

The aggravated isolation experienced in well-type prisons is contrary to human nature and will cause serious physical and psychological damage to prisoners.

As the Prison Commission of the ÇHD Istanbul Branch, we embrace the resistance of the prisoners; We emphasize that well-type prisons are contrary to human nature and usurp the most basic rights of human beings. We want the prisoners’ acceptable demands to be met and transfers to be made before there are any deaths.”

“To date, the Ministry of Justice has not made a single statement”

After Deniz, lawyer Güçlü Sevimli took the floor. He said the Ministry of Justice and the authorities have maintained their silence since 2021, when pit-type prisons began to open. “To date, no one has mentioned the name and contents of the well-type prisons in any way,” he said.

Referring to the fact that well-type prisons are very intense isolation-centered structures that are contrary to humanity, Sevimli said, “There is not even ventilation in the cells.”

Then he brought the subject to Serkan Onur Yılmaz and mentioned that his condition was becoming critical with each passing hour. He explained that he had turned his act into a fast to death:

“Yılmaz’s health condition is quite serious. Day 275 is a very critical day. We know from other hunger strikes that Yılmaz is now on the verge of death. His life is in danger. The damage caused by not eating is obvious. We call on the Ministry of Justice for Serkan Onur Yılmaz. The Ministry of Justice should not ignore Yılmaz. He must accept his request, which is very reasonable. It should not cause death.

Sevimli, who also criticised the AKP government, referred to the peace process and said, ‘You will talk about “peace” and “democracy”, but on the other hand, you will continue to open up wells and ignore political prisoners. This is unacceptable.’

“Even if he survives, he will have many health problems”

Finally, Ali Hasan Akgül explained the conditions of well-type prisons. “Having ventilation means more than a few sentences,” said Akgül, “As soon as you cannot breathe fresh air, all your relationship with nature and the world is cut off. You stay in a cell for 23 hours, you are taken out for an hour of fresh air.. This means that a prisoner of the pit-type does not come across rain or snow. It means that he can’t feel the wind. If you’re lucky, you’ll only come across the sun. This means that the most fundamental points that make us who we are are removed from our lives.” he said.

Stating that he could feel what Serkan Onur Yılmaz was experiencing, Akgül stated that the demands could be met but it wasn’t preferred. He said that everyone was expected to be ‘half a person, a quarter of a person.’

He said that even if Yılmaz ends his hunger strike, he will have many irreversible problems in terms of health. He stated that Yılmaz could not continue his life like everyone else and that this was a heavy price in itself.

Serkan Onur Yılmaz started his hunger strike in Antalya High Security Prison. On the 213th day, he was transferred to Bolu F Type. But he wants his friends in Antalya to be transferred to a prison that is not a pit-type prison. With this demand, he continues his hunger strike.

(HA)