HDP MP Gülüm: There are 1,334 Ill Inmates in Turkey

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Züleyha Gülüm has brought the death of ill inmate Hüseyin Polat into Parliamentary agenda.

Addressing a Parliamentary question to Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül, Gülüm has asked why Polat, who was diagnosed with gastrointestinal bleeding, was sent back to prison after having a mere injection.

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA) on January 27, 2020, Hüseyin Polat had gastrointestinal bleeding in Tekirdağ Type F Prison. Finally being taken to a hospital, he lost his life there.

Human Rights Association: There are 1,334 ill inmates

Referring to the latest data shared by the Human Rights Association (İHD), Gülüm has indicated that while the capacity of prisons in Turkey is 220 thousand, there are currently 280 thousand people behind bars.

There are 1,334 ill prisoners in Turkey and 457 of these people are seriously ill, Gülüm has indicated further and added that "44 ill inmates lost their lives in prisons from the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2019."

Sharing details about Hüseyin Polat, she has said, "Lastly, behind bars for 24 years, Hüseyin Polat has recently lost his life in Tekirdağ Type F Prison. It is indicated that Polat had gastrointestinal bleeding on January 25, he was sent back to prison because 'there was no room' at the hospital and, in his phone call with his family, he said that he only had an injection, his body started to swell and he 'felt that he was going to die'."

'How many ill inmates are still in prison?'

Gülüm has addressed the following questions to Minister of Justice Gül:

"Why was Hüseyin Polat sent back to hospital after a mere injection even though he was having gastrointestinal bleeding? Why wasn't he taken to another hospital for treatment?

"Will you launch an investigation against the prison authorities who took Hüseyin Polat back to the prison without being treated?

"Even though it is documented by medical reports that they cannot look after themselves, why are ill prisoners not released?

"What kind of inspections are conducted to ensure that prison authorities provide ill inmates with the necessary treatment in prisons?

"How many ill prisoners lost their lives because they were kept in prison despite the forensic medical reports that said 'they could not stay in prison'?

"How many ill inmates are held in prison despite the above-mentioned forensic medical reports? In which prisons are these inmates held?" (EMK/SD)