'He could hardly speak': Prisoner tortured in northeast Türkiye

Birsen Karakum and Emir Karakum

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The mother of Emir Karakum, who was arrested nine months ago on the charge of "being a member of a terrorist organization," has said that wardens at the Bafra Prison tortured her son.

Karakum was detained on December 3, during İstanbul-based police raids. He was arrested at the Samsun Courthouse on December 6 and was taken to the Samsun Type-T Prison. After starting a hunger strike there, he was transferred to the Bafra Type-T Prison.

"We talked about an hour ago. My son told me that the wardens and the prison director tortured him, and the doctors remained silent against the torture," said Birsen Karakum.

"He could hardly speak"

"He called me about an hour or two ago. He was subjected to extreme torture. The wardens arbitrarily entered to search the room, the director was also with them.

"He didn't show any reaction. He said, 'My arms are all bruised. He could hardly speak. I wanted so much to go to the prison today, but we couldn't arrange a lawyer. We'll go tomorrow."

"Doctor ignores bruises"

"My son has been in prison for nine months. He had been previously battered as well, I had seen for myself at the time. We couldn't get a result at the infirmary. They don't do anything, they don't even write a report. [The doctor] ignores bruises. Last time, they didn't even do a tomography scan. The doctor at the hospital is the same.

"My son is constantly subjected to torture, psychological pressure, and physical violence. How can I be happy outside when he is being tortured?

"I don't feel well at all. I want to see him. In what age we are living? The officer of the state commits torture.

"The officer of the state can't do torture. My child is currently arrested pending trial, he is not even a criminal. He has nothing but letters. Think about it, they even took his covers and letters. We expect support from the public and lawyers."

Statements of a confessor

Karakum is a graduate of History from the Ondokuz Mayıs University.

Last year, he wrote a letter to bianet and said that his friend was in prison for "attending a press statement" and "chanting slogans."

A court then arrested him as well, based on the statements of a confessor.

Speaking to bianet in March, lawyer Ceren Yılmaz said that while Emir was being tortured in prison, he was made to listen to the "Mehter Anthem", the anthem of the Ottoman military band.

The lawyer had shared the following information:

"The operation was İstanbul-based, but Emir was taken into custody in Samsun. He attended the hearing [via video conference] on the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS); he was arrested like that.

"He was first taken to the Samsun Prison; there were no political prisoners. As he went on a hunger strike, he was transferred to Bafra.

"Even though his legal status is an arrestee, he is held in the aggravated life sentence conditions in the Bafra Prison.

"He is held in a solitary confinement cell and the cell has no ventilation. He is taken somewhere else to get some air for an hour a day, but he stays there on his own. He can only see the wardens."

NOTE: We were not able to reach the prison administration because all lines of the Bafra Type-T Prison were busy.

(EMK/VK)