ANKARA - İHD stated that 13 prisoners, 3 of them with firearms and 6 of them suspects, lost their lives in the prisons in Central Anatolia in the first three months of the year, and that 52 detainees were tortured and 32 detainees were prevented from being released.

 

The Human Rights Association (İHD) Ankara Branch Prisons Commission announced the report on the violations of rights in the prisons in the Central Anatolia Region in the first quarter of 2023 at the association building. Nuray Çevirmen, Co-Spokesperson of the İHD Central Prisons Commission, stated that a total of 128 people applied to İHD in 3 months, 89 people from 24 closed prisons in the Central Anatolia Region and 39 people from other prisons.

 

'52 PRISONERS EXPOSED TO TORTURE'

 

Noting that at least 32 prisoners' right to health has been violated in prisons in Central Anatolia, Çevirmen said: "At least 52 prisoners were also subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The fact that the Ministry of Justice does not share the data on this issue, the constant blocking of communication with prisons, the strict control of communication, the difficulties experienced especially in getting news from provincial prisons, the experiences of criminal prisoners are reported to the press, authorities and human rights organizations (mostly). It reveals that the number of prisoners who were subjected to torture and ill-treatment due to their failure to communicate is much higher than the stated number.”

 

THE RELEASE OF 32 PRISONERS WAS DENIED

 

Mahir Uslu, a lawyer who is a member of the İHD Prisons Commission, explained the data on disciplinary punishments and executions. Noting that at least 32 prisoners' right to conditional release and probation were violated by the decision of the Administration and Observation Board (IGK) in the Central Anatolia region; moreover, these practices can also be based on extremely arbitrary reasons, such as the prisoners greeting each other or asking for help. The violations of rights and oppression in prisons can also be grounds for a disciplinary investigation. As a result of disciplinary investigations, prisoners may be given the right to communication and solitary sentences. But more importantly, these investigations and punishments are used as an excuse and their executions are burned. In fact, the rights arising from the Execution Law can be applied according to the preferences of the prison administrations. Prisoners who are seriously ill and in the last year of their sentences, even those who are in good health, are not released. Prisoners are not given the right of probation for good behavior due to disciplinary investigations and penalties. Prisoners' right to conditional release and probation are prevented by the decisions of the Observation Board."