The others take sugar water as well as salt water, which does increase the number of days they can survive but is nonetheless inevitably lethal. As we pass day 60, unless immediate steps are taken, many of these prisoners will be left with permanent disabilities even if they stop the hunger strike. Many human rights groups that have gone on record on this issue, including Amnesty International, have stated agreement with the prisoner's demands. Many family members of the prisoners are also on solidarity hunger strikes. Human rights groups in Turkey, as well as prominent writers and artists have called on the government to take positive steps, so far to no avail.
Turkey is fairly vulnerable to sustained international pressure on prison reform.
It is in talks with the EU for membership. Turkey is the third largest recipient of U.S. military aid, after Israel and Egypt .