FAMILIES of prisoners in specially built prisons in Turkey are seeking legal aid to bring a case against the authorities after their relatives were beaten for speaking Kurdish.

Prisoners in Iskenderun, a high-security jail for political prisoners, have called for increased awareness of their cases and for human rights advocates to intervene.

A family member, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals against their relative, said: "They are insulted by the guards every minute … and battered for speaking Kurdish.