#Turkey

This article examines death fasts in Turkey as a form of political action situated at the intersection of ethics, law, and state power. Drawing on philosophical, legal, and medical discourses, it explores how the notions of the “sanctity of life” and the “right to resist” shape debates on legitimacy, forced intervention, and human agency within the carceral context.

The release of political prisoners is not a legal concession but a necessary foundation for real peace and justice. This article analyzes how Turkey’s penal policies—particularly under the AKP—systematically exclude political prisoners through covert amnesties and discriminatory practices. Drawing on recent legal reforms, official data, and institutional cases, it challenges the legitimacy of current penal execution practices and frames equality before the law as a litmus test for democratic normalization.

In recent years, Turkey has opened dozens of new high-security prisons without public debate or transparency. What drives this silent but massive expansion — and what does it mean for dissent?