CORONAVIRUS

‘Lives of Ill Prisoners Put at Risk’

Raising concerns over the conditions of prisons and ill prisoners amid coronavirus outbreak, rights organizations have reiterated that preventive measures against the outbreak need to be implemented in prisons immediately.

İstanbul

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Rights organizations have released a written statement regarding what needs to be done for ill prisoners amid novel coronavirus pandemic.

The statement of the organizations has underlined that an emergency action plan needs to be developed and swiftly put into effect for prisoners in the risk group, especially the seriously ill ones.

The joint statement has been signed by the following organizations:

Civil Society in the Penal System (CİSST) Association, Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) Right Initiative Association, Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch, İstanbul Dentists' Chamber, İstanbul Health and Social Service Laborers' Union (SES) Branches, İstanbul Medical Chamber, Lawyers for Freedom Association, Foundation for Society and Legal Studies (TOHAV), Association for Solidarity with the Families of Convicts and Arrestees (TAYAD) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV).

'Transfers to hospitals have come to a halt'

Referring to the statement of the Ministry of Justice dated April 13, the organizations have noted that three prisoners have lost their lives. Based on another statement by the ministry dated April 28, they have also indicated that 120 prisoners have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

"Civil society organizations and the press have been informed that the measures taken against COVID-19 in several prisons are not adequate, prisoners are not given necessary cleaning products, there are serious problems in accessing the sickroom, the personnel of the penal institutions fall short of taking necessary measures and transfers to hospitals have come to a halt," the organizations have said in their statement and added:

"Not only does this situation increase the risk of the outbreak, but it also puts the lives of ill prisoners at risk. Ill and seriously ill prisoners, the prisoners with special needs, children, pregnant women and disabled prisoners are at grave risk during the pandemic."

'Preventive measures need to be prioritized'

The organizations have also shared their recommendations and demands as to what needs to be done in prisons amid COVID-19 outbreak:

* Preventive and protective procedures need to be adopted in all prisons in Turkey and these procedures need to be inspected.

* The prisoners whose trials are still ongoing and the prisoners whose judicial processes are in the phase of appeals without their sentences being finalized should be released immediately.

* By prioritizing preventive measures, necessary steps need to be taken to ensure the immediate functioning of transfers to sick rooms and hospitals, which have been suspended during the course of the pandemic.

* Seriously and chronically ill prisoners and the ones who cannot sustain their lives by themselves should be released by introducing a stay of execution for their sentences urgently.

* The obligation of a Forensic Medicine Institution approval for medical reports should be immediately lifted, Research and Training Hospitals and University Hospitals should be authorized to approve the reports. (AS/SD)