Hunger-striking lawyer Ünsal's father: Let my son go, we'll make sure he lives

Nihat Ünsal, the father of jailed hunger-striking lawyer Aytaç Ünsal has called on the Turkish authorities to release his ailing son. “What did my son do? You cannot incriminate someone whatsoever without any certain evidence. Neither the President, nor the Interior Minister nor anyone else has the right to incriminate someone in this way. The judiciary needs to be independent,” Ünsal said.

Wednesday September 02 2020 11:35 am

Hacı Bişkin / DUVAR

Nihat Ünsal, the father of jailed lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, who has been on a hunger strike for 212 days, has called on the Turkish authorities to release his ailing son.

“Even if it is conditional, release my son. Somehow we'll convince him, we'll make sure he lives. We promise,” Nihat Ünsal said.

Aytaç Ünsal has been on a death fast, meaning he vows to continue his hunger strike until death unless his demands of receiving a fair trial are met. In 2018, Ünsal was arrested and convicted on terrorism charges, which he refutes.

Ebru Timtik, a lawyer who was on a death fast for the same reason, died last week after 238 days on hunger strike. Timtik and Ünsal were part of a group of lawyers convicted in early 2018 on terrorism charges that supporters of the lawyers say are baseless and politically motivated.

Ünsal has been held in an Istanbul hospital for several weeks as his condition has worsened.

“Since Aytaç was a child, he has been fond of people. He was someone who loved to help and stand side by side with somebody. He always tried to do everything he did in the best way possible. He would have given his life for the people he loves,” Ünsal said, adding that Aytaç is his only son and that it has been extremely difficult to watch him die in a cell.

“What did my son do? You cannot incriminate someone whatsoever without any certain evidence. Neither the President, nor the Interior Minister nor anyone else has the right to incriminate someone in this way. The judiciary needs to be independent,” Ünsal said.

After hearing news of Timtik's death, Aytaç's condition grew considerably worse, his father said.

“He has been held at the hospital for 33 days. It is very bright and noisy in the hospital at the moment, and he is not receiving treatment. Why are they holding someone at the hospital who is not receiving treatment? I am unable to understand this. He needs to be taken out of the hospital right away,” Ünsal said.

Topics Turkey