THE Star’s editorial staff called on the National Union of Journalists today to campaign for the release from her jail cell in Turkey of a hunger-striking Kurdish journalist in very poor health.

Turkish authorities raided the home of Jin News journalist Kibriye Evren in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir in October 2018 and arrested her for “spreading terrorist propaganda.”

The court decided to keep her locked up despite her ill health and has delayed her trial by two months, rejecting a request from solicitors that she be released today.

Ms Evren has been on hunger strike for 143 days demanding an end to the solitary confinement of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The Star’s NUJ Chapel said: “We have consistently stood in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Turkey, the largest jailer of journalists in the world. Today we call on support for the Freedom for Kibriye Evren campaign.

“We condemn the Turkish state for the politically motivated decision to keep her in jail today despite health concerns related to her hunger strike.

“Today we call for all progressives, including trade unions, political parties and other organisations, to support for the Freedom for Kibriye Evren campaign.

“The delay of her trial until July 18 means she will have been on hunger strike for 214 days. It is highly likely that she may die by that time.

“We cannot remain silent in the face of the oppressive [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan regime, which is silencing critical voices and shutting down democracy in Turkey.

“The continued detention of Ms Evren is yet another stain on Turkey’s democracy.

“We call on the National Union of Journalists to launch an immediate and urgent high-profile Freedom for Kibriye Evren campaign demanding the release of Ms Evren and the hunger-striking journalists from the Mesopotamia News Agency.

“The union must be at the forefront of the fight for press freedom and democracy in Turkey, and we call on it to make an immediate statement in support of Ms Evren.”

Jin News told the Star that Ms Evren “is unlawfully being kept in prison because of her activities as a journalist” and that “there is no concrete evidence about her being a member of an illegal organisation.”

Jin News also criticised the lack of attention press and human-rights organisations have given to Ms Evren’s case.

“We emphasise one more time that we are there for her and we will always have her back in the pursuit of the truth. We are expecting everyone to raise their voices for Kibriye.”