International revolutionary Ecevit Piroğlu, who has been held for three years by the Serbian state, is facing a serious threat to his life. The Serbian state continues to hold Piroğlu in prison as they seek to hand him over to the fascist Turkish state.
Piroğlu’s hunger strike which began on the 12th February 2024 has reached a critical moment. Piroğlu, who has now dropped down to only 49kg, had previously undertaken a 136-day-long hunger strike to prevent his extradition to Turkey and his body seriously deteriorated. Piroğlu’s right to access treatment was also blocked.
Despite a decision by the Serbian High Court that ruled Piroğlu cannot be handed over to Turkey, he has been imprisoned since 2021. Piroğlu’s arrest by Serbian police on the 12th January 2024 when he was supposed to be released and his subsequent transfer to another prison thinly veiled as a “camp” is evidence that the Serbian state is flouting not only its own laws but also international law and universal human rights.
Ecevit Piroğlu has been in danger of being handed over to the Turkish state as a result of the ongoing dirty dealings between the Serbian and Turkish states since he was arrested. The original reason for his arrest was on request by the Turkish state. Piroğlu’s extradition to the Turkish state was previously prevented by means of an international campaign and Piroğlu’s own 136-day hunger strike.
Piroğlu’s continued imprisonment despite the ruling of the court is further evidence of the ongoing dirty political negotiations between the Serbian and Turkish states. Serbia, by continuing to hold Piroğlu is committing a crime.
As Piroğlu passes his 107th day of hunger strike, his life is in serious danger. He must be immediately released and provided with treatment.
The Serbian state is solely responsible for anything that might befall Ecevit Piroğlu. We call on the Serbian state to renounce dirty negotiations with the fascist Turkish state and release Piroğlu immediately, in compliance with international law.
Freedom for Ecevit Piroğlu!