Human Rights Association: ‘Decree on Prison Uniforms Should be Revoked’

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Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch Prison Commission made its statement of "No to Prison Uniforms", which it has been regularly holding for the last six months, at the building of the İHD İstanbul Branch today (September 11) due to the ban on protests and demonstrations at Galatasaray Square.

"Prison uniforms violate fundamental rights"

Reminding that prison uniforms were introduced by the Statutory Decree no. 696 issued on December 24, 2017, the commission stated that this practice "makes a categorical discrimination among inmates, which is a violation against the prohibition of discrimination."

The commission also added, "This uniform is a tool which aims the standardization and disidentification of inmates, which violates the prohibition of maltreatment/ torture.

"Since it will be possible that the inmates who refuse to wear the prison uniforms will not be taken to court or verdicts can be given in their absence, this practice will also lead to the prevention of the right of defense and violate the right to a fair trial."

"State of Emergency practices should be ended"

In its statement, the commission requested that "the practices which are not any different than the State of Emergency be ended" and demanded that the Statutory Decree no. 696, which introduced the prison uniforms, be revoked.

The commission said, "Considering that no inmate will voluntarily wear the prison uniforms, it means oppression and torture. Torture is a crime against humanity." (AS/SD)