Hunger strikes in Turkish prisons end

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

A two-month old hunger strike by prisoners in Turkey has ended, the Prisoners' Families Association (TUHADFED) said today.

Outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan called late yesterday for an end to hunger strikes in prisons across the country.

Öcalan reportedly said the hunger strikes should not be staged by inmates, but “by those who are outside” instead.

Öcalan’s brother, Mehmet Öcalan, also said the leader believed the hunger strikes had reached their goals.

Prisoners, as well as many people outside, launched the action on Sept. 12 to demand an end to the isolation of Öcalan, who is serving a life sentence on İmralı island, as well as an end to restrictions on the use of mother tongues in court and in education.