IHD Calls on Justice Ministry to Take Action

The association called on the Justice Ministry and the prosecutor's offices to take action and have the patients be examined not by the Forensic Medical Institution but by independent institutions.

IHD, in a press conference Wednesday, said a total of 110 people had died as a result of death fasts that began in October 2000 and at the December 19 prison operations. The association added that hundreds of detainees and convicts were suffering from the Wernicke Korsakoff disease caused by death fasts.

The Wernicke Korsakoff disease is caused by prolonged hunger and lack of vitamins, and causes serious damage to the brain, affects balance and leads to memory loss. If there is no improvement in the condition of a Wernicke Korsakoff patient by the end of the first year, the disease becomes chronic and impossible to cure.

Forensic Medical reports that changed after 2003

IHD said that a very high number of patients suffered from this illness. It said some of these patients were released by fall 2003 and their sentences were postponed.

Some others were pardoned by the President. According to the association, the Forensic Medical Institution, after fall 2003, decided that some of those patients had recovered from the illness.

As a result of the Forensic Medical reports, some patients, still suffering from the Wernicke Korsakoff disease, were arrested again and sent back to prison.

For example, Tekin Yildiz, and Eyup Kendir and many others, who are currently serving in prison, are suffering from this disease, said the IHD. It said some patients who are under an arrest order, were hiding because they were unable to look after themselves. These patients are seen as fugitives and as a result, they cannot go to be treated said IHD.

Memory loss

Representatives from the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) and the Society and Legal Research Foundation (TOHAV) also attended the press conference. Esmahan Ekinci, who is a Wernicke Korsakoff patient, and who is being treated by TIHV spoke at the press conference.

The President pardoned Ekinci after three reports in 2001 that postponed her sentence. She talked about another Wernicke Korsakoff patient, her friend Cafer Gurbuz.

Ekinci said they had lived in the same house with Gurbuz for a while and added that because of a memory loss, Gurbuz was unable to even find his house if left on his own.

The Forensic Medical Institution, in its latest report stated that Cafer Gurbuz answered all questions correctly, said Ekinci. She added this report did not reflect the fact that Gurbuz was suffering from memory loss.

IHD repeated its call

The Istanbul branch of IHD reiterated the following demands at the press conference:

* Independent doctors and institutions with scientific ethic should reexamine Wernicke Korsakoff patients.

* The patients, who were rearrested, should be released. The arrest warrant on others should be lifted.

* The President's pardon system had been lifted after a group of journalists accused him of "pardoning terrorists." This system should be put back in

place.

* The Justice Ministry and prosecutor's office should take action against illegal and unscientific actions. (YS/BB/EA/YE)