Abdulkadir Kuday, a seriously ill prisoner held in Metris Type R Prison, was not released despite all attempts and died in prison today. Kuday, who was kept in a cell with Ergin Aktaş, who was missing both hands, was detained in Qoser (Kızıltepe) district of Mêrdîn on October 8, 2014 during the Kobanê protests and arrested on the allegation of “being a member of an illegal organization”. Kuday, who was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, was diagnosed with a herniated disc and underwent surgery. Kuday's pain persisted, but the diagnosis turned out to be wrong. Kuday was taken to Tekirdağ Dr. İsmail Fehmi Cumalıoğlu City Hospital and diagnosed with ALS, which causes the nervous system to be unable to send impulses. 

 

Kuday dropped below 40 kilograms in Metris Prison, where he has been held since 2021. On December 1, 2021, Tekirdağ Dr. İsmail Fehmi Cumalıoğlu City Hospital issued a report stating that Kuday “cannot sustain his life in prison”. However, on December 2, a report was prepared stating that Kuday could stay in Type R Prison. Based on the ATK's report, Kuday was transferred to Type R Prison. During this period, Kuday lost most of his ability to speak and became bedridden. The prison prosecutor's office prevented Kuday's release on the grounds that he was “dangerous to society”. The applications made for Kuday, who was kept in prison bedridden on a respirator, did not yield any results. 

 

Shortly before his death, the ill prisoner Kuday answered the questions of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) through his lawyers. Answering our questions together with Aktaş, “comradeship keeps us alive” Kuday said.

 

KUDAY'S LAST WORDS 

 

Saying that living in prison requires great effort and energy, Kuday emphasized that they would not give up their “honorable struggle” no matter what the conditions. Describing a day they spent in prison, Kuday said: “We start the day at 8 in the morning with ‘rojbaş’ (good morning). We prepare our breakfast together in the framework of comradeship. Then we turn on our radio and listen to 1-2 opposition frequencies. This way we follow the news and agenda. After cleaning up, we read books together. The newspaper comes to our ward at 12:00. We usually read the newspaper after lunch. Then we have a 2-hour ventilation time and we go to the ventilation. First Ergin friend tries to drive Serdal Yıldırım's wheelchair (he was released on August 19) and paces with him. Then he paces with me. Sometimes mine is delayed because Serdal liked pacing. 

 

ONE WITHOUT HANDS AND ONE WITHOUT FEET 

 

After the volley, we chat among ourselves. Then we go to our barracks. If we are not in pain, we try to get some sleep. If anyone is awake, they usually read a book. We also spend time reading after dinner. We also watch a good movie or documentary on TV. There are also political discussion programs. But we don't watch them because they are usually racist political discussions. Sometimes in the evenings we organize chess tournaments among ourselves. On important days we sing songs and recite poetry. At night we go to sleep. If nothing new happens, this is how we spend our days. I should also say that Serdal and Ergin complement each other in terms of work. One without hands and one without feet. They come together and become a person with arms and legs.” 

 

'RESISTANCE WILL WIN'

 

Emphasizing that their rooms were very narrow and the conditions were difficult, Kuday underlined that despite all the negativities, their morale was high and they started the day with love. Pointing out that other sick prisoners are more tired, “When I see their situation, I understand the Kurdish people better. Indeed, in this current situation, the persecution is unlimited. But our stance is also a response to their persecution. As long as this persecution continues, the resistance will continue from the top to the bottom and we will win in the end” Kuday said. 

 

Pointing out that death is a reality for every living being, but the question “What kind of death?” is important, Kuday said: “My comrades, family, acquaintances and friends should know that I have learned many things in the dungeons for years. I still go to and from the hospital on a stretcher. This is a persecution and this persecution is still going on. Last time they took me to the hospital again. It was like an order came from somewhere. After they took me to the hospital, they tortured me in such a way that I cannot explain. Afterwards they said, 'Kuday does not want to be treated'. When they first brought me to the hospital, they said to each other, 'This is a PKK prisoner'. As soon as this word was heard, they became inhuman. They did not give me a drop of water in the 4 days I stayed there. I returned to the dungeon in my miserable state.” 

 

'THEY WANT ME TO LOSE MY LIFE IN THE HOSPITAL'

 

Stating that he was taken to Tekirdağ İsmail Fehmi Cumalıoğlu City Hospital a short while ago, Kuday said: “Until now, they always said ‘there is no cure for your illness’. Before that, when I said I was not well, they would say 'There is nothing wrong with you'. But now they are forcibly taking me to the hospital. Because they want me to lose my life in the hospital. So I told them; let a doctor examine me. If I need to stay in the hospital, I can stay with a companion. But they refused. I want the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) to follow my case. I don't trust them.” 

 

BEQUEST

 

Kuday said: “Let our people build their unity. Let them defend their language and culture. Let them love each other, lighten their burdens and pains. Let them take steps forward in every sense. Also, as you know, there is an isolation in İmralı. They should struggle to break the isolation in İmralı. After the martyrdom of my son, my family received the news of the martyrdom of my nephew. I know that my family has suffered a lot, my forehead is open for them. If I die, they should bury me next to my son Seyid Rıza (Dijwar Baran) and my nephew Elîşêr (Şiyar Mazlum).”