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STRUGGLES

Struggles-for-autonomy-in-Kurdistan

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For solidarity with the families ofprisoners - On top ofbeing separated from their loved<br />

ones, these families endure financial hardship. Kurdish prisoners are transported into<br />

prisons in western Turkey, far away from their families. Their families are often unable to pay<br />

for travel to visit their relatives. According to Işmail, head ofTAY-DER:<br />

"90% ofthese prisoners are from very poor families and they need help. For example, one prisoner I know<br />

is from Wan [close to the border with Iran] but they sent him to prison 1800 km away, so the family can’t<br />

afford the tickets and they cannot see their son."<br />

For an end to torture in prison - The ex-prisoners we spoke to told us ofwidespread torture<br />

including beatings, sexual violence, suffocation and psychological torture. In 2014, the IHD<br />

reported 22 documented cases oftorture in prisons during 2014. The number of<br />

undocumented cases is, ofcourse, likely to be much higher.<br />

For solidarity from lawyers and legal organisations outside Kurdistan - Many people we<br />

spoke to stressed the importance ofsolidarity from lawyers and legal organisations who could<br />

help with individual cases, advocate for changes in the law and/or write legal opinions on the<br />

situation for Kurdish prisoners.<br />

Kurdish prisoner solidarity groups and ex-prisoners have asked for people<br />

outside ofKurdistan to launch joint campaigns with them to highlight these<br />

issues.<br />

act in solidaritywit h the people of kurdistan<br />

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