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.

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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.

CNN Turk contributed to this report.

Turkish jail siege ends
November 3, 2000

Turkish Government Information

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