Aysel Tuğluk released after Forensic Medicine Institute report

The institute yesterday concluded that Tuğluk cannot stay in prison. Imprisoned since late 2016, the Kurdish politician was diagnosed with dementia in March last year.

Ruken Tuncel

Aysel Tuğluk released after Forensic Medicine Institute report

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Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk has been released from prison following a Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) report that says Tuğluk can't take care of herself in the prison because of her health condition.

The institute previously decided that Tuğluk could stay in prison despite having dementia.

Following her diagnosis in March 2021, Tuğluk has been kept in prison despite all the efforts of her lawyers and medical reports from university hospitals that she cannot take care of herself in prison. Tuğluk's situation has gradually worsened since then.

On October 21, the ATK requested to take a brain MRI of Tuğluk. She was transferred to Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital. Lawyer Reyhan Yalçındağ said that ATK's report was prepared but not communicated to the lawyers. The report was released and sent to the court yesterday (October 26).

HDP Law and Human Rights Commission Co-Chairperson, Lawyer Serhat Eren stated that the deputies had the ATK decision approved by the Ministry of Justice.

Tuğluk was released from the Kandıra Type-F Prison at about 8 p.m.

Medical reports on Tuğluk's health

On July 12, 2021, Kocaeli University Forensic Medicine Institute reported that Tuğluk "due to her illness, could not continue her life alone and could not stay in prison alone."

Tuğluk was transferred to İzmit Seka State Hospital again on December 21, 2021, to see if she could defend herself. The hospital noted that Tuğluk's diagnosis of dementia was stable and that there was progress in her condition, stating that the decision on whether or not she could defend should be made by the ATK.

In its report on February 25, 2022, ATK stated that she had "mild cognitive impairment" and could partially "defend". Thereby, although not requested from the court, the report indicated that there is complete "criminal responsibility" referring to a person's ability to comprehend her conduct when a crime was committed.

A report prepared by İstanbul University on February 4, 2022, stated that Tuğluk had "atypical, rapidly progressing dementia" and that her treatment was only possible under hospital conditions.

The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey stated on April 14, 2022, "she cannot maintain her life under prison conditions".

Aysel Tuğluk's imprisonment

Aysel Tuğluk was arrested on December 29, 2016, when she was the deputy chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

On March 16, 2018, the Ankara 17th Heavy Penal Court sentenced Tuğluk to 10 years in prison for "managing a criminal organization." The 16th Chamber of the Court of Cassation upheld the verdict.

A court ordered her arrest in the case concerning the 2014 Kobanî protests, where 108 HDP members are facing aggravated life sentences for having allegedly organized the deadly protests by orders of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

On March 15, 2021, the Seka State Hospital in Kocaeli diagnosed Tuğluk with dementia.

At the hearing of the Kobanî trial on August 1, Tuğluk was forced to defend herself. "I don't know what happened and when it happened. I don't know what I'm on trial for."

At the hearing on August 5, the court ruled for her release, but her imprisonment continued because of her previous sentence.

The Constitutional Court on August 12 rejected an application for Tuğluk's release.

Aysel Tuğluk is still kept at the Kandıra Prison in Kocaeli.

About Aysel Tuğluk

Politician and lawyer.

She was the founding member and Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) and elected Diyarbakır MP in 2007-2009. She became the Van MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in 2011-2015. She served as the Vice Co-Chair of the HDP responsible for Law and Human Rights.

Aysel Tuğluk was also a member of the Society and Law Studies Foundation Executive Board, a member of the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the founder of the Patriotic Women's Association.

Born in Elazığ in 1965, she graduated from the Faculty of Law of İstanbul University and worked as a self-employed lawyer.

(RT/WM/VK)

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Ruken Tuncel

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