Death Toll Rises to 6 in Hunger Strike by Turkish Prisoners
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ANKARA, Turkey — Three more Turkish prisoners died on a hunger strike Thursday, raising the toll to six in the 2-month-old nationwide protest.
The six were part of a group of more than 300 leftist hunger strikers in about 30 jails who are demanding the closure of Eskisehir prison--dubbed “the Coffin” by inmates--and protesting prison conditions.
Medical experts say hunger strikers cough blood, suffer internal bleeding and lose eyesight, hearing and, finally, consciousness.
Human rights workers said that Mujdat Yanat, 37, died in western Turkey’s Aydin prison, where he was serving an 18-year sentence for armed activities.
Earlier, inmate Ali Ayata died in Bursa jail, and Huseyin Demircioglu starved himself to death in Ankara Central Prison, according to lawyers and rights activists. The two were held in connection with membership in separate urban guerrilla groups.
Three other hunger strikers died earlier this week.
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