Justice Minister Gül: No Coronavirus Cases in Prisons

* Photo: Utku Uçrak - Ankara / AA

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Chaired by Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül, the second coordination meeting on new coronavirus (Covid-19) was held today (March 23).

The meeting began in the capital city of Ankara at 11 a.m. and attended by Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) Deputy Chair Mehmet Yılmaz, HSK First Chamber Chair Halil Koç, Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) Chair Metin Feyzioğlu, Notaries' Union of Turkey Chair Dursun Cin and Vice Justice Ministers Zekeriya Birkan, Şaban Yılmaz and Uğurhan Kuş.

'Don't take any risks, stay home'

Addressing the reporters following the meeting, Justice Minister Gül has announced that no one has tested positive for Covid-19 in prisons.

Some highlights from his speech are as follows:

"Our citizens should not leave their homes unless necessary. As for our citizens 65 years and older, it is the expectation of us all that they follow the measures in the most strict way possible. Penal sanctions will be imposed on the ones who will not abide by the ban and quarantine. All measures are for our life safety. Life fits into home. Let's not take any risks. Let's stay home."

'No positive cases in prisons'

Reminding the reporters about the precautions taken in the legal services and the judiciary against the outbreak, Gül has noted that an open and closed space of 7 million square meters has been disinfected so far, as well as shuttle and service vehicles of busses and probation offices.

"I would like to reiterate that no positive cases have been detected in prisons", Minister Gül has said and added that when new arrestees and convicts are admitted into prisons, they immediately undergo a medical health check and when they show the slightest symptom, they are immediately referred to a hospital without entering the prison.

Gül has also underlined that they thoroughly check whether new arrestees and convicts have been recently abroad and, if so, they are again not admitted into penal institutions and referred to isolation. (AS/SD)