'Turkey’s prisons have turned into houses of death'

* Photo: HDP

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Ebru Günay held a weekly press conference yesterday (December 16).

Expressing her condolences to the family and loved ones of late lawyer Prof. Yücel Sayman, who lost his life on December 15, Günay said, "A significant loss for the community of law and human rights struggle... He has left us a good legal experience and perspective. We express our condolences to the community of law, to his family, loved ones, friends and colleagues."

Günay also talked about the violations of rights in Turkey's prisons. She said, "The prisons of a country are the mirrors of their democracy. Unfortunately, the prisons of Turkey have turned into houses of death. Only in the last week, two ill prisoners have lost their lives in prison."

'They are given to families in coffins'

Ebru Günay recalled that ill prisoner Halil Güneş lost his life in the Diyarbakır Prison and ill prisoner Abdülrezzak Şuyur lost his life in the Şakran Prison and they were handed out to their families in coffins.

"The treatment and right to healthcare of both ill prisoners were prevented; they were almost left for dead. Halil Güneş had been in prison for 29 years; he was left for dead on his own," protested Günay:

"He was being treated for bone cancer. He had stayed in several prisons, primarily in the Ulucanlar, but the death deemed worthy of him by this government, by the Justice Minister was [in] torment and torture."

'They made it look like suicide'

HDP's Günay also talked about the suspicious death of Garibe Gezer in the Kandıra Prison in Turkey's western Kocaeli province.

"Garibe Gezer was raped and subjected to torture in Kandıra Prison; she tried to make herself heard by writing letters, but the Justice Ministry did not respond to her request. It has put its seal to a murder by making it look like a suicide," said Ebru Günay about her and added:

"When it comes to Kurdish prisoners, the Forensic Medicine Institution issues reports of murder. When it comes to a mafia, a gang, it has become an institution that issues reports that pave the way for releases."

'Release Aysel Tuğluk'

Raising concerns about the health condition of jailed politician and ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk as well, Günay briefly said:

"These are the most concrete indications that an enemy law is operated when Kurds and dissidents are concerned. These are unacceptable for us. Abandon this enemy law as soon as possible.

"I want to call out to the Justice Ministry one more time. Abandon these practices where prisons have turned into houses of death; abandon the enemy law. Release all prisoners, primarily Aysel Tuğluk."

'Lira has become worthless like a stamp'

Commenting on the further depreciation of the Turkish Lira, Günay recalled that "the exchange rate of the US Dollar topped 15 lira" yesterday. According to Günay, this situation "actually manifested the situation that the country has found itself in". She briefly said:

"It needs to be asked who becomes rich when the dollar increases to such an extent. The increasing dollar makes these people, these laborers poorer. It causes the Turkish Lira to become worthless like a stamp while making the ones supported by the government rich." (RT/SD)