Cyprus: Unconvicted prisoners began a hunger strike in the central correctional facility of Nicosia

Public announcement – November 6th, 2012

We are the following prisoners awaiting trial:
Dimitris Mamalikopoulos #1108/12, Panagiotis Baztekis #908/12, Ioannis Mavrofridis #906/12, Andreas Ivanidis #907/12, Kosmas Kalaitzidis #905/12, Georgios Dimitriou #1264/12, Vero Doriani #1265/12, Eleftherios Kartasakis #1263/12.

As unconvicted inmates of the central prison in Nicosia, Cyprus, we request and struggle for our lawful rights.

Firstly, we are not permitted to go out into the prison yard.

Secondly, we are not allowed to watch television.

Thirdly, we are forced to buy bottled water because free drinking water is not even provided by the prison administration.

Fourthly, we are not allowed to communicate with our families by phone for more than 10 minutes per week.

Fifthly, we are not given a proper diet.

We are claiming our legal rights, seeking no more than provisions already included in the prison statutes, which all inmates are entitled to.

Therefore, all aforementioned prisoners awaiting trial decided to begin a hunger strike, until our legal requirements are met.

We are aware of the fact that our decision will cause further problems in regards to our pretrial detention, as we will inevitably undergo tortures and be confined in the special isolation wing (even though the latter punitive measure is prohibited as far as unconvicted inmates of the central prison are concerned).

We are thus asking for support and solidarity, particularly through the Greek Embassy in Nicosia.

Solidarity is our weapon.
The passion for freedom is stronger than any prison.

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