Petition Launched for Cancer Patient Discharged Physician: ‘Let Haluk Savaş Live’

* Photograph: Twitter account of Haluk Savaş

Click to read the article in Turkish

An online petition has been launched for cancer patient Prof. Dr. Haluk Savaş, who was discharged from the Department of Psychiatry at Gaziantep University by a Statutory Decree during the State of Emergency.

Though academic and physician Savaş has been acquitted of the offense charged after serving time in prison and though his international travel ban has been lifted afterwards, he is still not permitted to leave Turkey for another country to continue his cancer treatment abroad.

The petition launched on change.org with the title "Let Haluk Savaş Live", the following remarks have been made:

"He developed pancreatic cancer when he was arrested. His health condition was so bad that he was unable to stand on his feet; but, he was still taken to the hospital where he worked in handcuffs.

"Dr. Savaş has been acquitted, the international travel ban has been lifted. However, his passport, which is a citizenship right, is not given to him and his fundamental right to access healthcare is being violated.

"Haluk Savaş needs to have the necessary treatment immediately and he needs his passport for that. People like Haluk Savaş are not easy to raise. Please help Prof. Dr. Haluk Savaş to access his fundamental rights by signing this petition."

What happened?

Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Prof. Dr. Haluk Savaş was discharged from his duty at the Medical School of Gaziantep University by a Statutory Decree during the State of Emergency. Having served time in prison and being acquitted of the offense charged, Prof. Dr. Savaş shared a message on his Twitter account on May 13, 2019 and announced that he is not permitted to leave Turkey for another country for his cancer treatment.

In his Twitter messages, Savaş stated that an officer from the Adana Governorship told him that "since he was discharged by a Statutory Decree, his passport has also been cancelled." Shortly afterwards, this issue has sparked outrage on social media and several media have shared messages under the hashtag #HalukSavaşaPasaport (Passport to Haluk Savaş).

With his passport cancelled and not being renewed though he has no legal travel restrictions, Savaş has been struggling to receive a cancer treatment that is not provided in Turkey. (AÖ/SD)