SÊRT - "The tumour in his brain has grown. He could have a brain haemorrhage at any moment. We do not want my father to be released from prison in a coffin," says Şimel Çam, daughter of seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Çam.

 

While the applications for the release of 73-year-old Mehmet Emin Çam, who is on the list of seriously ill prisoners of the Human Rights Association (IHD), remain inconclusive, his family is worried about his life. Şimel Çam, who last visited her father in Batman Beşiri Type T Closed Prison on 22 January, stated that her father could not survive on his own.

 

Reacting to the fact that the execution of her father, who has many diseases, was not postponed, Şimel Çam said, "When I went to the prison, two of his friends were bringing him on his arm. He was exhausted. He was drifting off. He was having trouble focusing. He has almost lost his hearing. We talked for 10 minutes of our speaking time, which is normally 40 minutes. I learnt that the blood vessel blockage and tumour in his brain had grown. He may have a brain haemorrhage or stroke. He came back from death twice before. We do not want my father to be released from prison in a coffin. Everyone should be sensitive about this issue." Pointing out that treatment is not possible under prison conditions, Şimel Çam said that he was examined in handcuffs.

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

Mehmet Emin Çam was arrested on 12 December 2012 on the allegation of "KCK City Assembly structuring" when he was the provincial chair of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Sêrt (Siirt). After 10 months, Çam was released to stand trial without arrest, but Siirt Heavy Penal Court sentenced him to 9 years for "membership of a terrorist organization". Çam was arrested on 14 March 2022 after the sentence was approved by the Court of Cassation and was kept in solitary confinement in Batman Type M Closed Prison for 17 days.

 

On 1 April Çam was transferred to Beşiri Type T Closed Prison and was found to have a brain tumour. On 27 May, Çam had a heart attack and underwent an angioplasty and has to take medication for life. Çam, who also has kidney disease, underwent kidney surgery twice. Despite this, the cysts in his kidneys reoccur. Çam, who also underwent cataract surgery, has myopia and astigmatism in his eyes. Çam, who also lost his hearing in his right ear, has difficulty walking due to paralysis on his left side.

 

RELEASE REQUESTS REJECTED

 

Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu and Semra Çağlar Gökalp, MPs of Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), made an application to the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission for Çam's release. In its decision, the Commission gave a negative response, claiming that the prison had made "maximum efforts" for Çam. The application to the General Directorate of Prisons and Detentions of the Ministry of Justice was also rejected on the same grounds, claiming that Çam's treatment could continue under prison conditions.

 

On 15 November 2024, the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) issued a report stating that Çam "can sustain his life". In the application made to Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on 28 November, the request for stay of execution was rejected on the grounds of the ATK's decision.