Protest over conditions in jails

The three were protesting against repression in Turkish prisons

A rally has been held by three Kurdish asylum seekers to raise awareness of their protest against repression in Turkish prisons.

Ayfer Yildiz, 33, from Hackney, east London, said she was prepared to die to end solitary confinement in the jails.

"I will do whatever it takes to stop isolation prison cells in Turkish jails," she said.

Ms Yildiz, Ibrahim Yalcin, 27, and Ulas Kecis, 27, from Wood Green, north London, are on a 45-day hunger strike.

They have been living in a tent near Seven Sisters underground in north London for 33 days.

"People being held in F-type isolation cells have committed suicide out of despair." Asylum seeker Ayfer Yildiz

About 50 people gathered during the 40-minute demonstration.

Campaign groups raised the plight of Guantanamo Bay inmates and the troubles of inmates in HMP Belmarsh, south east London.

The three, who are originally from Turkey but now live in north London, will end their hunger strike on 4 February.

Ms Yildiz came to the UK in December 1999 after spending 18 months in a Turkish jail for writing magazine articles criticising the government.

She said: "We would like to say stop the censorship and isolation cells in Turkish prisons and I'm looking for support from the British people.

"People being held in F-type isolation cells have committed suicide out of despair.

"Some of the prisoners were killed by forcible medical intervention or force feeding."

Supporters of the protest have joined the hunger strikers for short periods of time.