VAN- Jouranlist Aziz Oruç, who is imprisoned in Van Patnos Type L Closed Prison reported the conditions on the prisons and told that the biggest need of the prisoners in his prison is the "hot water" due to coronavirus risk, because they have been having shower with either cold or only warm water for some time now.

 

Journalist Aziz Oruç spoke with his wife Hülya Oruç on April 27 and reported the conditions on Patnos Type L Closed Prison located in Van, Turkey. "I can say that what we need most is the hot water regarding the virus risk. In Patnos Prison, we have shower with either cold or warm water only", said Oruç and shared that the measures against the COVID-19 pandemic were not adequate to protect the prisoners.

 

'I CAN NOT SEND LETTER'

 

Oruç shared their problems on communication with the outside world as follows: "We are only able to use our phone right once a week. And there is no ban on letters and there supposed to be no problem on sending or receving letters. I have sent a letter and a photo to my wife on Aptil 6. However, I have no feedback whether my letter was sent or will be returned back to be or whatsoever. For many time I have filed complaints, but I just have no feedback regarding to problems of sending letters."

 

CLEANING MATERIALS NOT ENOUGH

 

Journalist in prison also reported about the hygene conditions of the prison amid the COVID-19 pandemic as follows: "We have serious problems acquiring cleaning metarials. Minister of Justice says 'we give all the cleaning products', but they only give us one soap a week. I can say that what we need most is the hot water regarding the virus risk. In Patnos Prison, we have shower with either cold or warm water only."

 

PRISONERS ARE NOT TAKEN TO HOSPITAL CONTROLS

 

Oruç shared the following information regarding the problems of medical checks and violations of prisoners' right to reach medical services: "Even the sick prisoners have problems regarding the dispatches to hospitals. I have had serious problems due to migraine. I have been taken to infirmary a few times before the coronavirus and asked for my dispatch to a hospital, but they told me not to hurry and wait. I am now just using medicine. Since I read books and write articles I have serious headaches and pain in my eyes, but I have never saw a medical treatment in any hospital."