WAN - In prisons, which the government often praises about, there are almost no rights left that were not abused during the year. At least 4 thousand 904 abuses of rights occurred, 34 prisoners lost their lives and the release of 245 prisoners was postponed. Finally, a hunger strike began to demand of "freedom for Abdullah Öcalan"

 

When it comes to human rights violations, the first thing that comes to mind is prisons. There have been intense human rights violations in prisons in Turkey and Kurdistan for years. These violations increased after the State of Emergency (OHAL) declared on July 15, 2016. Isolation has been deepened, especially with the type S and Y prisons, where it is aimed to completely cut off the relations of prisoners with the society.

 

During the AKP government, a total of 392 open and closed prisons were closed by the reason of "they did not comply with international norms and education and rehabilitation were limited or not provided at all due to their physical conditions and capacities"; however, instead of these prisons, other prisons where more severe human rights violations occurred were built. As of December 1, 2023, there are a total of 405 prisons in Turkey and Kurdistan, 274 of these are closed, 16 of these were built in 2023.

 

Not content with this, the government plans to build new prisons in the coming year. The Ministry of Justice, which requested 198 billion 703 million 54 thousand liras from the budget, plans to use some of this for new prisons. The ministry, which has a plan to build 12 new prisons for 2024 in its budget proposal, has 8 new prisons in its estimated budget plan for 2025.

 

'THE SITUATION OF PRISONS'

 

The total capacity of these prisons is stated to be 228 thousand 186. According to the data of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, a total of 314 thousand 502 people are currently in prison, 275 thousand 965 of whom are prisoners.

 

The DEM Party Law and Human Rights Commission stated the other day that 2,906 people, including children and many party executives, were detained and 319 people were arrested in the 11 months of 2023. It was emphasized that this number was minimal. Considering the number in question, it is estimated that the number of prisoners is higher than last announced.

 

Many journalists were also imprisoned in 2023. According to the 11-month report of Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) for 2023, 57 journalists are currently detained in prisons in Turkey and Kurdistan. DFG Cochair Dicle Müftüoğlu is just one of these journalists.

 

4 THOUSAND 904 VIOLATIONS IN 9 MONTHS

 

The prisons remained on the agenda with violations in 2023. The Human Rights Association (IHD), which received intense applications on this subject, announced many reports throughout the year; There were 4 thousand 904 rights violations against the prisoners in the first 9 months of 2023. Some of these violations are as follows: Violation of the right to life, ill-treatment, assault, torture, lack of access to health, communication ban, malnutrition, lack of access to justice, not being given a fair trial, degrading behavior, postponement of releases, disciplinary punishment, imposition of oral searches, strip searches.

 

ATK DECISIONS LED TO DEATH

 

These violations affected ill prisoners the most. According to IHD data; As of today, there are 1 thousand 517 ill patients detained in prisons, 651 of whom are seriously ill. Ill prisoners were literally left to die throughout the year due to the "may stay in prison" reports given by the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK), which is at the center of criticism for making political decisions. While some prisoners lost their lives in prisons, some prisoners died on their deathbed shortly after being released. The calls of human and legal organizations, especially İHD and the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), regarding this situation were left unanswered.

 

34 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES

 

According to IHD data, at least 34 people died in 2023 alone. Cemal Tanhan (68), a stage 4 cancer patient who was released from Bolu Type F Closed Prison after suffering a stroke while imprisoned for 30 years, died on December 4.

 

The names of those who died in prison or shortly after their release in 2023 are as follows:  Hamdin Ördek Necip Bulut, Cengiz Karlı, Kasım Sarıdoğan, Talip Alan, Hakan Dernekçi, Bayraktar, Beyza Sağ, Alparslan Aslan, Sıddık Durğun, Abdullah Oran, Duygu Koral, Divali Güzel, Erhan Konuk, Ufuk Akçekaya, Neşet Özçelik, Abdullah Kaynar, Abdulhalim Kırtay, Behçet Kaplan, Kamil Turanlığolu, Ahmet Rıza Özkan, Ali Kara, Kutluhan Söylemez, Bayram Tekin, Bişar Yazıcı, Ümit Mutlu Akpınar, Erhan Baştin, Şakir Turan, Sinan Ayyıldız, Mevlüt Karaaslan, İsmail Hakkı Erdem, Yılmaz Özalp, Mehmet Selim Onğulu ve Cemal Tanhan.

 

THE RELEASE OF AT LEAST 245 PRISONERS WAS POSTPONED

 

The postponements of releases continued throughout this year. Administrative Observation Boards, which were established in prisons after the judicial package passed by the Parliament in January 2021, acted as "parallel courts." During the year, at least 245 prisoners sentences were either terminated or their releases were postponed for 3-6 months, based on reports stating that they were "not well behaved"

 

EXCUSES

 

The issues cited as justification for the "not well behaved" report drew attention. Some of the reasons are as follows: "Reading too many books, not meeting with the prison imam, not expressing regret, participation in social life being seen as harmful because they have no regrets, dancing the halay, consuming too much water, high electricity bill, not graduating from university while in prison, greeting visitors, being indifferent to the personnel of the institution..."

 

THE SITUATION OF IMRALI

 

The most severe violation occurred once again during the year in Imralı Type F High Security Prison. The absolute isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is held here, has been deepened. There has been no news from Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş, who are held in the same prison with Abdullah Öcalan, for 34 months. All applications made by the lawyers of Asrın Law Office were either rejected or postponed due to "disciplinary punishment." Hundreds of applications remained unanswered.

 

The Imrali isolation, which brought about a further aggravation of the Kurdish issue, was protested with various demonstrations and events throughout the year. On October 10, the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign was launched in 74 different centers around the world. Political prisoners also started a hunger strike in 106 prisons on November 27 with the same demands.

 

Some of the important situations in prisons in 2023 are as follows:

 

* January 04: Alzheimer patient Hamdin Ördek died 6 days after his release from Giresun Prison.

 

* January 18: Former Hîzan Municipality Co-Mayor İhsan Uğur, who was held in Diyarbakır High Security Prison No. 2, was given a disciplinary punishment for speaking Kurdish.

 

* February 8: It was claimed that the prisoners in Hatay Type T Closed Prison started a "revolt." Three people died in the military attack.

 

* February 23: A food bill of 14 thousand liras was notified to the residence of Ferhan Yılmaz, who lost his life as a result of torture by the guards in Silivri No. 5 Type L Closed Prison.

 

* March 21: Political prisoner Abdullah Oran in Ankara Sincan Prison died due to a heart attack.

 

* March 23: Şaban Kaygusuz, who has no right hand or leg, said that he was not given a wheelchair during the transfer to the hospital and he hopped on one leg, surrounded by soldiers, because the gendarmerie did not help him.

 

* March 29: The release of 12 prisoners in Bolu Prison was postponed 30 times in more than a year, on the grounds of "not using water economically", "not leaving the organization", "not submitting a petition of regret", "not participating in spiritual activities"

 

* March 31: Journalist Ziya Ataman, who is held in Dumlu High Security Prison No. 2, reported that they are under severe isolation.

 

* April 17: 68 female prisoners sent a letter to the CPT regarding the deaths in prisons and said: "Intervene in the deaths in prisons with known perpetrators as soon as possible and stop these policies by using your powers."

 

* May 16: 31-year-old Behçet Kaplan, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization" in Bedlîs(Bitlis) in 2014, died in Ahlat Type T Prison, where he was held.

 

* July 8: A 52-year-old prisoner named Bişar Yazıcı, who was held in Van High Security Prison, lost his life.

 

* July 17: Seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan was released from prison after the release decision.

 

* August 30: 70-year-old Şakir Turan, an ill prisoner in Erzincan Type L Closed Prison, died in the hospital where he was treated. Turan's last message was, "I hold my head up, I did not step back."

 

* September 2: Mother Muhlise Karagüzel of Peace, who had three heart attacks in prison and was held alone, was not released despite ATK's report that she was 90 percent disabled and "cannot be held in prison."

 

* September 3: Abdulmenaf Osman, who was released from prison after 30 years, was taken to Edirne GGM (repatriation centre) to be deported.

 

* September 7: Îdir Municipality Co-Mayor Yaşar Akkuş, who was appointed by a trustee, had a heart attack in the prison. 

 

* September 8: In Urfa No. 1 Type T Prison, sick prisoner Fevzi Arslan was not given the corset prescribed by the prison doctor to prevent his intestines from coming out.

 

* September 8: Prisoners in Patnos Type L Closed Prison, Mizgin Kayitbey, Lale Kabişen and Nazlıcan Barışer, were beaten by male guards. The prisoners were held 'hog-tied' during torture that lasted for hours.

 

* October 12: Diyarbakır Execution Judgeship deemed the prisoners who made their defense in Kurdish as "giving up their defense and using their right to remain silent."

 

* October 10: It was revealed that 80 thousand 415 people were released from prison after the Omnibus Bill, which was submitted to the Parliament by the AKP and excluded political prisoners, was accepted on July 13.

 

* November 27: The political prisoners started a hunger strike demanding "freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a solution to the Kurdish issue"

 

*December 04: Cemal Tanhan (68), a seriously ill prisoner of 30 years in Bolu Type F Closed Prison, was released after he suffered a stroke. Tanhan died 43 days later.

 

* December 4: 81-year-old Makbule Özer in Wan was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison after the ATK's report that she could be held in prison. As the condemnations increased, a new report was requested from ATK.

 

* December 7: Mother Ayfer Şahin and her daughter Şehirban Mamuk, who were sentenced to imprisonment upon the complaint that the police who raided their home were arrested. The police alleged that Ayfer Şahin and Şehirban Mamuk attacked them with pots and pans.  Mamuk had to take her 3-year-old child to prison with her

 

* December 12: Mehmet Güvcin, who was held in Şırnak Type T Closed Prison and had cancer, died at Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital in Amed, where he was receiving treatment.

 

* December 10: Prisoner Mehmet Bayram (75), a dialysis patient with a 97 percent disability report, held in Sakarya No. 2 Type L Closed Prison had a heart attack.

 

* December 13: Prisoners in Menemen Type T Closed Prison were beaten because of the provocation of guards, and their right to see their families was denied.

 

* December 15: Yasin Yılmaz, who is held in Patnos Type L Closed Prison, stated in a telephone conversation with his family that arbitrary raids were carried out on the wards and 15 people were sentenced to solitary confinement.

 

MA/ Adnan Bilen- Hakan Yalçın