However, there were many other civilian Kurdish activists who did not join the reform movement.
The idea was criticized by Kurdish activists who wanted the prison to become a museum to human rights abuses.
Kurdish activists said the reforms were inadequate.
These protests are said to be due to the execution of 17 Kurdish activists.
A Kurdish activist in the 1980s, she had been arrested and tortured by Turkish police.
Reportedly, "She was the most prominent and most important female Kurdish activist.
On 10 January 2013, Cansız, in her 50s, was found dead with two other Kurdish female activists.
The head of the Syrian National council is a Kurdish activist.
After protesting the execution of five Kurdish activists, he was transferred to Rajaeeshahr prison.
However, Kurdish activists and politicians in his native province distanced themselves from him.