‘Arrested Journalist Ziya Ataman’s Right to Healthcare Restricted’

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm has submitted a Parliamentary question to the Parliament, requesting that the question be answered by Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül.

Gülüm has asked Minister Gül a series of questions regarding journalist Ziya Ataman, who has been behind bars for over three years.

Reminding the Minister that the reporter of the closed Dicle News Agency (DİHA) was arrested April 11, 2016, Gülüm has raised her concerns over Ataman's gradually deteriorating condition of health.

CLICK - Journalist Ataman Under Arrest for 1,185 Days

Gülüm has indicated that Ataman has problems with his stomach and intestines. The MP has also added that Ataman was referred to the sick room two and a half month after his doctor's application and his doctor told him that his intestines have a total organ failure.

'His right to healthcare restricted'

"Though Ataman has applied to the prison administration for many times to receive regular treatment, his applications have been rejected each time and his right to health is being restricted", Gülüm has further indicated.

Accordingly, she has asked a series of questions of Minister to Justice Gül, including the following:

• Are you informed about the health problems of Ziya Ataman and the arbitrary practices of prison administration regarding his treatment? Journalist Ataman has been arrested in Van Tpe M Closed Prison for over three years. On what grounds is his right to access health care being restricted?
• Are there any investigations launched against the prison administration that has restricted Ziya Ataman's right to access healthcare by rejecting his request for referral to hospital though his doctor said that his intestines have a total organ failure?
• On what grounds are prisoners' and convicts' right to access healthcare guaranteed by both international and national legislations being restricted?
• Is your Ministry working to prevent practices faced by ill inmates in prison and restricting their right to access healthcare?

About Ziya Ataman

Ziya Ataman, who was an intern correspondent at the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), was taken into custody in Turkey's eastern province of Van. Ataman, who was detained during news follow-up in Kurubaş Neighborhood in the district of Edremit in Van, was arrested on April 11, 2016.

He had eight hearings in the 1,185 days he spent behind bars. The Constitutional Court rejected his application. The judges and prosecutors who tried him were discharged in an investigation against the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ, held responsible for the 2016 coup attempt).

The upper limit for his arrest, which is two years as it is a case examined by a heavy penal court, has long been exceeded. But he is still behind bars at the Van High-Security Closed Prison. He is waiting for his next case which will be held at the Şırnak 1sy Heavy Penal Court on September 24.

Barış Oflas, the attorney of Ataman, told bianet the following:

"Ziya has been struggling with intestine diseases for many years. When he was outside, the disease was under control and he was being treated. After the entered prison, the disease began to grow under stress and prison conditions. He faces problems about going to the infirmary and the hospital."

"After our efforts, Ziya was sent to the hospital. He was prescribed drugs but was not sent to hospital again although he needs to receive treatment regularly. His disease has progressed. He needs continuous treatment." (HA/SD)