What It Takes to Be Penniless in Prison
Association of Civil Society in Criminal Execution System (CİSST) and Women’s Solidarity Foundation (KADAV) drafted a report on prisoners with no income and those who cannot afford their basic needs.
The report defined the “poor prisoner” as below:
“As of June 2014, there have been more than 150,000 inmates in Turkey’s prisons, and most of them cannot afford their needs”.
Inmates in prison have to fulfill and cover the expenses of their own needs such as cleaning, clothing, smoking, tea, etc. except three meals a day and the ward lighting.
“If you do not have any visitor or any income, you are in a poor manner. You cannot smoke or drink tea. You cannot find detergent or soap to wash your clothes or to use in bath. In addition to that, you cannot buy anything from the prison’s cafeteria whenever you want to buy something to eat since the meal is too bad. During the days, months and years in prison, you may have to wear same clothes and underwear.”
Excerpts from inmate letters
The report has included sample letters from prisoners as well:
“Basic stuff such as sheet and toiletries are in very limited number. The sheets should be replaced in every six months, but I used the same sheet for 27 months. Since the African prisoners usually don’t have any visitors, they don’t have any money. While HIV-positive prisoners are not let to work, the prison administration doesn’t address their basic needs such as bath soap, laundry detergent, etc. The prisoners have to buy even their own sugar. (from Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison)”
“Before being sick, I could earn a little bit of money by knitting and crocheting. I could buy at least cleaning materials, etc. In here, they don’t provide anything to us, neither water nor soap, toothpaste or sugar, just tea is free. I couldn’t receive any money from my relatives since I have no family. Besides, the embassy doesn’t aid. (from Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison)”
“We cannot ask for any help from anyone except the association. Because we, socially excluded transgender people, are insulted even by our families. Since we cannot afford, we cannot buy anything to eat or drink from canteen, except the prison’s meal. Believe me, we feel the absence of everything. (from Bafra T-type Prison)”
“I have no communication with my family. I’m totally broke and helpless, please help me (….) Now, believe me, I don’t have even any underwear (…) I don’t have clothes to wear. Just two ragged t-shirts and pants. (from Kandıra No. 2 T-type Closed Prison)”
Laundry for 5-6 liras
The report list a series of observations and suggestions:
Poor prisoners have only two choices. They would either wash the others’ clothes and doing their cleaning, or work in prison’s garbage, kitchen works or shops.
* Since the prisoners are kept in prisons against their will, with the claim of being under the state’s assurance fulfilling the basic needs of the prisoners is one of the state’s responsibilities.
* New working areas should be provided for the prisoners who want to work, and the prisoners can cover the expenses of their needs by working. However working should not make obligatory.
* Paying an insufficient wage such as 6-7 liras to working prisoners should be ended.
*There are hundreds of old, sick women and those who kept with their babies in prisons. The basic needs of the prisoners unfit for work should be fulfilled. (AS/CB/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.