‘Prisoners attempted to commit suicide following wardens' torture in Silivri Prison’

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The Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) released a statement today (April 12) and stated that 60 wardens tortured prisoners in Silivri No. 5 Prison in İstanbul and six prisoners attempted to commit suicide.

The association indicated that "after it received requests regarding an attempted mass suicide in Silivri No. 5 Prison, they went to the prison yesterday and had meetings" about the issue. The ÖHD called on the Justice Ministry to make a statement about the incident.

'It falls on the Justice Ministry'

The association shared the following information:

"We have been informed that on April 6, 2022, 60 wardens entered the cell where ordinary prisoners were held, they slapped one prisoner, uttering threatening remarks like 'Come out, we will talk', and one prisoner had a seizure in the brawl that ensued this incident.

"It was alleged that at around 12:00-13:00 next day, on April 7, nearly 60 wardens came to the ward again; the wardens had the director of the institution with them and the director threateningly told prisoners, 'We will make you a film, just wait'; wardens took away and tortured six prisoners; one prisoner attempted to commit suicide with shoe laces in the garden upon this pressure and violence and though they saw the suicide, fellow prisoners helped their friend, not the wardens or the healthcare personnel.

"It was reported that afterwards, at 10:00-11:00 on April 8, six prisoners attempted to commit suicide by taking nearly 40 pills; one prisoner is now in the intensive care unit and other prisoners were given bans on having phone calls to prevent them from telling their families what happened.

"Lastly, as far as it has been reported in the press, we asked about the allegation that a prisoner who was held there had committed suicide and the deceased body was taken to Batman province; however, no information could be obtained from the officials at the prison.

There are allegations of grave human rights violations with regards to both the prohibition of torture and right to life at Silivri No. 5 Prison. While we will follow up this process, it is the obligation of the Ministry of Justice to shed light on the allegations. Therefore, we call on the Ministry of Justice to immediately make a statement about the life safety of other prisoners and the rights violations.

İHD: 2 prisoners lost their lives

The Human Rights Association (İHD) has also addressed the Justice Ministry and called on it to clarify what happened at Silivri No. 5 Prison.

The association has announced that two prisoners have lost their lives. The İHD has briefly stated the following:

"After it was reported in the press that prisoners were battered and forced to commit suicide during the count at Silivri No. 5 Prison on April 6; false minutes were taken down about them; they were forced to state that they were not battered when they were taken to the doctor and eight prisoners were taken to the Silivri State Hospital, the Directorate of Prisoners and Detention Houses denied the incident in a statement released on April 9.

"However, it is said that torture and ill treatment are still in place, prisoners are prevented from meeting their lawyers and two of the prisoners hospitalized yesterday, Serhan Yılmaz and one prisoner whose name is not known, lost their lives yesterday and the deceased body of Serhan Yılmaz was reportedly received by his family." (AS/SD)