Turkish hunger strikers 'near death'

[Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx <xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://europe.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/12/07/turkey.prison/index.html

Turkish hunger strikers 'near death'

ANKARA, Turkey (CNN) -- Turkish prisoners who have been on hunger strike
for 50 days are close to death, officials say.

Just under 200 prisoners are on a "death fast," while another 245, in 24
prisons, are on an indefinite hunger strike in protest at planned high
security prisons, the Ministry of Justice said on Thursday.

Some non-governmental organisations estimate the number of prisoners
striking could be as high as 800.

The planned prisons will have cells housing one to three inmates and the
prisoners fear they will be at increased risk of abuse from prison
officials.

The prisoners have refused to stop their protest despite pleas from the
ministry and have signed forms forbidding doctors from intervening if
they lose consciousness.

Some prisoners were on the brink of death, said the chairman of Izmir
Chamber of Doctors, who visited one prison. However, the doctors could
not help as it would unethical to intervene.

Some prisoners are said to be suffering from loss of memory, loss of
vision, and gastric bleeding. Bodily functions are permanently damaged
once the critical stage is passed.

The new prisons would replace the current dormitory style wards, each
housing up to 100 inmates.

It is alleged that some of the wards are controlled by organised crime
gangs, and authorities readily admit that gangs threaten the prison
wardens and smuggle in guns and mobile phones.

Authorities believe the new jails meet European Union standards and will
prevent riots. Prisoners killed five Usak prison inmates from a rival
gang about a month ago and took prison officers hostages.

The Minister of Justice, Hikmet Sami Turk, tried to allay fears about
the new prisons by saying on Thursday they would not be opened for at
least another six months and not until prisoners' rights were fully
protected.


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Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
PhD Student
Department of Political Science
SUNY at Albany
Nelson A. Rockefeller College
135 Western Ave.; Milne 102
Albany, NY 12222


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