Rights Violations in Patnos Prison Brought into Parliamentary Agenda

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ağrı MP Dirayet Dilan Taşdemir has submitted a parliamentary inquiry and requested that a parliamentary investigation be launched into the rights violations in the Patnos Type L Closed Prison in Turkey's eastern province of Ağrı.

Stating that the water used in the prison is not suitable for human consumption, Taşdemir has underlined that epidemic illnesses such as tuberculosis have also been prevalent. She has added that there are also complaints by inmates regarding battery, ill treatment and discrimination.

"Prison administration has accepted it as well"

In the justification of the parliamentary inquiry, it has been stated,

"In the Patnos Type L Closed Prison, there are serious violations of rights caused by the attitude of the prison administration such as battery, insult, forced naked body search and arbitrary disciplinary punishments.

"It has also been accepted by the prison administration that for the last two years, the water used in the prison has been extremely dirty for human consumption, has caused serious conditions of poisoning and health problems on the inmates, has a high level of iron and sulphur and, therefore, cannot be categorized as drinking water.

"There are insects and razors in food"

"We have also been informed by the inmates that they found insects and razor blades in their food and they suffered from serious weight losses because the food served in prison is both in poor quality and insufficient.

"In addition to these violations, the letters and faxes of inmates to the Human Rights Association (İHD), embassies, civil society organizations and media outlets have been confiscated by the prison administration.

"We also receive various applications stating that the criminal complaints of inmates are not put into effect, their petitions are torn and thrown away."

"He said, 'They are not humans, but terrorists'"

In her petition, Taşdemir has also stated that they, as MPs, contacted the prison administration regarding the news of 'Riot in Patnos Prison' reported by the local press last week. Referring to their meeting with 2nd Director of the prison H.H., the MP has shared the following information:

"H.H. said to us, 'There is no violation of human rights, because they are not humans, they are terrorists who call themselves political prisoners, I am representing the state here and the attitude of the state towards terrorists is clear.' With such statements, the director has officially accepted and defended the rights violations and torture in prison."

On the basis of these justifications, Taşdemir has requested that a commission be established in parliament to investigate these violations. (AS/SD)