ÊLIH - Reacting against the non-release of Emrah-Fırat Nebioğlu brothers, one of whom is paralysed outside and the other in prison, despite a disability report, uncle Emin Şahin asked human rights defenders to make their voices heard.
According to Human Rights Association (IHD) data, as of 1 December 2024, there are 378,657 detainees and convicts in 406 open and closed prisons in Turkey. According to the report, 759 children between the ages of 0-6 are held in prisons with their mothers, and according to the findings made in April 2022, there are 1,517 ill prisoners, 651 of whom are seriously ill. According to the data of human rights organisations, 709 prisoners died in prisons in the first 11 months of the year as of 28 November 2024.
Prisoners who cannot survive in prison alone due to their ill, elderly and disabled conditions are prevented from being released on the grounds that they "can stay in prison" by the Forensic Medicine Institution and "pose a threat to public security" by the relevant prosecutor's offices.
'CANNOT STAY IN PRISON' REPORT
Fırat (24) and his brother Emrah Nebioğlu (30) are among the ill prisoners in prisons. Fırat Nebioğlu was arrested in Êlih in 2015 and sentenced to 11 years and 7 months in prison on charges of "being an illegal organization member" and "committing crimes on behalf of an illegal organization without being a member of an illegal organization". Fırat Nebioğlu, who was sentenced to 11 years and 7 months in prison at a young age, became 92 percent disabled due to a stroke he suffered in prison. Nebioğlu, who has a report on his disability, is also struggling with health problems such as kidney failure, vision and hearing loss. Nebioğlu, who has to undergo dialysis 3 days a week due to kidney failure, was given a report by Batman Training and Research Hospital stating that he "cannot stay in prison" due to kidney failure. However, the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) issued a report on 14 March 2022 stating that Nebioğlu "can stay in prison". Nebioğlu's 7 applications for a kidney transplant were not responded positively. The family's requests for release were repeatedly rejected.
PARALYSED BUT 'ESCAPE SUSPICION' JUSTIFICATION
Emrah Nebioğlu, Fırat Nebioğlu's older brother, was severely wounded with a bullet in the head during a protest against ISIS attacks on Kobanê in 2014, leaving him paralysed. Emrah Nebioğlu was arrested on 5 February 2022 as part of the case against him despite being paralysed. Nebioğlu was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in prison for "being an illegal organization member". Nebioğlu, whose sentence is pending before the Court of Cassation, is not released on the grounds of "escape suspicion" despite his paralysed condition. Nebioğlu, who has a 94 percent disability report from Batman Training and Research Hospital, has health problems such as slipped eyes, hearing loss and high blood pressure. The family's applications for a non-custodial trial remained inconclusive.
'WE WANT JUSTICE'
Emin Şahin, the uncle of the brothers, reacted to the situation by saying, "How come two brothers who cannot even meet their needs are not released with the suspicion that they might escape?"
Şahin noted that their request for a kidney transplant was also rejected. Stressed that they demand justice, Şahin stated that the Nebioğlu brothers were not released because they were Kurdish. Şahin called on human rights defenders to make their voices heard, demanding an end to the persecution against them.