#death fast

By Anti-Imperialist Front

Dec. 10: Death Fast resister and lawyer of the People’s Law Bureau, Aytaç Ünsal, was arrested in Edirne, Turkey. His mother, retired judge Nermin Ünsal, was informed that he was detained by Edirne anti-terror police last evening: “His health was not good. He was nervous, had a lot of trouble and was receiving treatment. The one-year suspension of his punishment was revoked. The police just called and said that he had been detained on suspicion of escaping.” 

We ask for urgent solidarity!

Turkish lawyer Ebru Timtik is 212 days on death fast, Aytaç Ünsal 181 days on death fast for fair trial. On Thursday, medical report said they aren't suitable for prison. Court ignored taking them to hospital by force.

Forced Medical Intervention is Torture! #FreeEbruandAytac

One of the most famous left-wing political music bands in Turkey, Group Yorum has been under constant pressures and harassment of the government, especially after the abortive military coup in July 2016. Band members have been facing detentions, arrests, and bans due to their political ideas. Some members have been on hunger strike for 261 days to protest these unlawful pressures. Two of them did turn their hunger strikes into death fast in January.

Helin Bölek and Ibrahim Gökçek were arrested about a year ago during a house search at the Idil Cultural Centre in Istanbul. They are accused of membership in the banned Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C). Bölek was released in November 2019 and Gökçek on February 24. Both musicians continued their fast until the reprisals against the popular left music formation are ended.

Bölek and Gökçek were taken to Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital by force by the police on March 11. After six days they were brought back to the ‘Resistance House’, where they continued their actions after not allowing medical intervention.

Bölek has lost her life today, on the 288th day of her fast which calls for the release of the detained group members, the lifting of the arrest orders against them and an end to the ban on the performance of the band.

Last night, March 11, 2020, Turkish police SWAT teams raided the Resistance House in the Kucuk Amurtlu district of Istanbul. Grup Yorum political prisoners Ibrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek were there to continue their hunger strike to the death, until their demands were accepted. They want to live but they want to live with dignity, a dignity that belongs to everyone. They are our barricade against Turkish fascism supported by Western imperialist powers.

The resistance house in Amurtlu was stormed by heavily armed SWAT teams that forced everyone inside the house to lie down on the ground and then handcuffed. The members of the SWAT teams said that the assault on the house was “aimed at conducting a search for evidence for a crime committed”.

After handcuffing everyone, SWAT team members forced Ibrahim Göchek and Helin Bölek from the house. During the assault, SWAT hit Helin Bölek’s mother – Aygul Bilgi and Kubra Sunnetci, who were taking care of Helin and Ibrhaim. The police arrested Yurdagül Gümüs, a former political prisoner, a veteran of the 19-22 December 2000 prison massacre.