Lawyer Reaches 175. Day in Hunger Strike

A one-man hunger strike launched by Turkish lawyer Behic Asci on April 5 marking the World Lawyers Day entered its 175th consecutive day on Tuesday, September 26, as the government continued to ignore his demands to address the issue of isolation of prisoners in the country's controversial maximum security F-type prisons.

Unaddressed problems at F-type prisons have so far lead to the death of 122 inmates/convicts and left behind more than 600 others crippled.

Asci, an attorney of law, declared in April this year "I am starting a hunger strike for the abolishment of isolation in prisons. I am on a hunger strike for the right to life in a country where law and justice have are being destroyed" and has since raised the support of a number of democratic mass organizations calling on the Ministry of Justice to end inhuman treatment in F-type prisons and save the lawyers life.

CHD's Bicen: Solution required before he dies

Contemporary Jurists Association (CHD) chairman Huseyin Bicen told bianet that rather than waiting for Asci to die on hunger strike, a solution to the ongoing problem needed to be found.

"Behic Asci's demands are not political but are humanitarian" he explained. "Humanitarian requests need to be addressed with humanitarian replies and a solution should not be delayed. Any tears to be shed after Asci's death will be crocodile tears."

Bicen called on the Ministry of Justice to take immediate steps towards solving the problem and said Bar Association chairmen needed to hold talks with the Platform Against Isolation to contribute towards a solution to the F-type prison problem.

DISK's Gorgun: Basic rights must be guaranteed

Turkey's Revolutionary Workers Unions Confederation (DISK) Ankara Regional Representative Tayfun Gorgun said problems encountered at Turkish prisons with F-type compounds coming at top of the list needed to be discussed immediately on a democratic and contemporary platform.

"The prisons should no longer remain to be a bleeding wound" said Gorgun, adding that work needed to be started to guarantee the most basic rights of inmates and convicts while the government heard the views of scientists and other relevant parties on the issue.

Gorgun appealed to the Ministry of Justice and all officials to hear the demands of families of the inmates and convicts held in prisons.

SES visits Asci

Health and Social Services Workers Union (SES) Sisli branch members on Tuesday paid a visit to Asci.

Prior to seeing the lawyer, SES Sisli Branch chair Rabia Tuncer said in a statement that the F-type enforcement needed to be abolished to protect the mental and physical health of all individuals without discrimination.

Support from democratic groups in Bursa

A number of democratic mass organizations based in Bursa visited lawyer Behic Asci last week at his house where he is continuing his hunger strike.

Human Rights Association Bursa branch executive Abdulaziz Akyol made a statement where he stressed that living conditions in F-type prisons were becoming more difficult by the day and added, "As human rights advocates we are hear now to the F-type prisons against isolation and to show that attorney.. Asci is not alone".

According to a news report in the Evrensel [Universal] newspaper, Asci continues his hunger strike at his home in the Sisli district of Istanbul and although he can still walk, has started to show signs of problems. The newspaper said he was thin and appeared to be exhausted and that he could not fulfill his daily functions. (KO/TK/YE)