PRESS RELEASE, JANUARY 17, 2004

27TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE NEAR SEVEN SISTERS UNDERGROUND STATION, LONDON

RALLY OUTSIDE HUNGER STRIKE TENT, 2 PM SATURDAY JANUARY 24

Over three years ago (in December 2000), the government of Turkey sent in thousands of soldiers and police into over 20 of the country's prisons. The aim was to force inmates into new F-Type isolation prisons. 28 prisoners were killed and hundreds wounded during this process. Hunger strikes in protest at the attack and against extreme forms of prison isolation have continued since then. In all, 107 people have lost their lives opposing the prison policies of Turkey's government, and the deaths are continuing.

Protests have continued outside prisons as well, and also outside Turkey in countries like Britain which have a significant Turkish-speaking minority. A 45-day hunger strike in a tent started on December 22 near Seven Sisters underground, at the junction of High Road with Seven Sisters. Several people there are on hunger strike throughout this period, while others are on hunger strike for shorter lengths of time. The aim is to increase public awareness of the highly oppressive prison policies of Turkey's government and to register opposition. Despite a racist stabbing of one of the Seven Sisters hunger strikers on January 6, he and the others will pursue the protest to the end.

A rally outside the tent is to take place at 2 pm, Saturday January 24. Progressive-minded groups and individuals are welcome to participate to show solidarity. For state oppression and isolation imprisonment is not confined to Turkey, as we have seen in the case of the Guantanamo detainees in US-occupied Cuba and the Belmarsh detainees in this country, to cite just two of many other examples.

HOC (Front for Rights and Freedoms)

Contact details: 07765 165491

Or 07966 739061

or e-mails:

 Steve_Kaczynski@web.de

 hoc@post.com