Article: Who is she and why is Tugcenur Özbay on hunger strike for 100 days

“Does a person in this country really have to be on hunger strike for 100 days to see their mother?”

In Turkey, political prisoner Tugcenur Özbay is approaching the 100th day of her hunger strike against the introduction of prisoner ID cards and the violation of her fundamental rights.

The administration of Şakran Prison in Izmir introduced prisoner ID cards under the pretext of ensuring security. But this is a lie. The existing security measures in prisons are sufficient, and the requirement to carry an ID card is stigmatizing and degrading for prisoners. Forcing Tugcenur Özbay to wear an ID card is an attack on her political identity.

For refusing to accept a prisoner ID card, prison administration deprived Tugcenur of the right to visits from family and lawyers, phone calls, parcels, and even medical care. Even though the law stipulates a warning at most for such a refusal.

For several months, Tugcenur’s lawyers were unable to meet with their client. Her family also received no information about her, as visits and phone calls were prohibited. Books and clothing sent to her were returned by the prison guardian with the note “Tugcenur Özbay is not registered in this prison.”

All of this proves that the measures taken against Tugcenur are an attack on her, an attempt to subjugate her. Such attacks are entirely consistent with the fascist regime’s policy in Turkey against revolutionaries and all dissenters.

The fascist AKP regime is unable to physically crush revolutionaries, because the martyrdom of one rouses thousands to fight. Therefore, it attacks them ideologically, throwing them into the depths of pit-type prisons, creating intolerable conditions of imprisonment to break their will and force them into submission.

Tugcenur Ozbay was arrested in 2015 as a student at Istanbul University being accused with “planning to commit an action” and subsequently sentenced to 33 years. Since January 29, she has been on a hunger strike against the imposition of a prisoner’s ID card on her and the violation of her fundamental rights.

Tugcenur has already lost 10 kg. She is starting to suffer from mouth sores and leg pain. She is approaching her 100th day on hunger strike. After 140 days, the damage to her body will become irreversible.

Tugcenur’s demands must be accepted immediately!

Her fundamental rights as a political prisoner must be restored!

The imposition of an ID card must be lifted!