Prison Administration Bans Visitor for Four Months Because of 'Greeting' an Inmate

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Ülkü Şeyda Başaraner has been banned from visiting İzmir No 2 Type-T Prison for four months because of saluting a convict named Mustafa Koçak during a visit.

Başaraner visited Musa Karakaş, a convict, on October 18. During their meeting, she greeted Koçak, who stays in the same ward with Karakaş and is currently on a hunger strike. Guardians in the visitation room warned her not to engage in a dialogue with Koçak.

She only waved her hand at Koçak as that was a non-contact visitation.

Not being satisfied with guardians' warning, the prison administration banned Başaraner from visitations for four months.

"Endangering the security of the institution"

The Prison Directorate sent an order dated October 21 to the Visitor Admittance Office. Başaraner endangered the security of the institution by greeting another inmate than whom she visited, according to the order.

"According to Article 5/n of the Regulation on the Visitations of Convicts and Arrestees, 'During visitations and meetings, visitations and meetings of delegations and persons who do not obey the rules are immediately terminated. Behaviors that constitute an offense are recorded in minutes and notified to relevant administrative and judicial bodies. The right to visitation of private persons who have the right to visitation can be restricted by the highest official of the penal institution due to their requests and behavior against the measures that are taken to protect the security of the institution,'" the prison administration said.

It also stated that visitors cannot involve in activities that endanger the security of the institution according to Article 86, titled 'Rules to be obeyed in visitations and meeting, of the Law on Execution of Penal and Security Measures.

Mustafa Koçak was convicted to aggravated life imprisonment on July 11 by İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court. He has been on a hunger strike since July 3, demanding the right to a fair trial. (AS/VK)