Vegan inmate in Kocaeli gets outside support for diet

A crowd gathered in front of Kocaeli Prison over the weekend to support Osman Evcan, who has been on hunger strike since Nov. 10 for his demand to be fed vegan-compliant food. Evcan, who has been in prison for the past 23 years for membership to an illegal organization, previously succeeded in getting the prison authorities to serve vegan and vegetarian dishes through hunger strikes but now is accusing the Kocaeli Prison authorities of violating his rights. The crowd of around 50 supporters who traveled from Istanbul used drums and cymbals in front of the prison before spraying "vegan food" on the prison walls. Reports said Evcan was transferred to Kocaeli and was accusing the local authorities of not serving food in accordance with his beliefs. Supporters said that prison authorities had willfully ignored Evcan's right to eat based on a person's convictions and in protest he can began his latest hunger strike. Evcan is arguing that the food a person chooses to consume is both a lifestyle and a political choice.