Ill prisoner demands treatment for cancer

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Making a statement about prisoner Ali Osman Köse, a cancer patient, the People's Law Bureau (HHB) has stated that Köse has still not undergone a surgery for his disease and his requests for his treatment in a hospital outside the prison have been rejected as well.

The application demanding the deferment of the execution of Ali Osman Köse's prison sentence is still awaiting a response from the Constitutional Court. Waiting for an answer from the top court, ill prisoner Köse was diagnosed with a cancerous tissue in his kidney. In addition to this, he is also suffering from high blood pressure and a chronic cardiac failure.

'He cannot walk without leaning on walls'

According to the HHB's statement, ill prisoner Ali Osman Köse has spent 37 years of his life in prison and since summer 2020, he has been suffering from health problems to the extent that it is now affecting his life.

The HHB statement has shared the following information:

"In July 2020, Köse wanted to stage a 30-day hunger strike in support of the demand of [death fasting] lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal for a fair trial; however, his health did not allow it and he passed out.

"As he is a convict of 'aggravated life imprisonment', he could be taken to the hospital after a long time. In his visitation with his attorneys later on, he said that he could remember the first seven days of his hunger strike and he could not receive sugar and salt at that time, adding that there were moments on other days when he could not even drink water.

"He was treated at the hospital for some time. Then he started to not be able to remember when he has to take his medicine or the developments that have recently occurred. Moreover, he has been unable to walk due to his health problems. He still cannot walk without leaning on walls.

Forensic Medical report said 'He could stay'

"As of October 2020, he was taken to the Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Hospital and Tekirdağ State Hospital for medical checks. Medical tests were done for the Forensic Medicine Institution examination.

"In January 2021, a quickly growing cancerous tissue was discovered in his kidneys. Physicians said that it was 99 percent cancer.

"In spite of this, in its report dated February 4, 2021, the Forensic Medicine Institution said that he 'could stay in prison', without mentioning this tissue which had the risk of turning out to be cancer.

Cancer might spread to other organs

"In early April, Ali Osman Köse was taken to the Edirne Trakya University. He underwent some tests for his surgery there. However, he has not been given a day when he will undergo the surgery.

"According to the most recent tests done at the Trakya University Hospital, the cancerous tissue in his kidney is now over 9 square centimeters. There is a risk that cancerous cells might spread to other organs.

Ministry has left applications unanswered

"Though it is the end of May, he has still not undergone the surgery.

"Meanwhile, the application for deferring the execution of his sentence so that 'he can undergo the surgery and treatment outside' was rejected.

"The applications made to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health last week to speed up his surgery have still not been responded."

He is 65, in prison for 37 years

Held in the Tekirdağ Type F Prison, 65-year-old Ali Osman Köse has been behind bars for 37 years.

Joining the protests for the release of Köse, Hasan Basri Yıldız from the Association of Assistance and Solidarity with Prisoners' Families (TAYAD) gave the following information about his condition:

"Ali Osman Köse is a prisoner who lived through tortures before the military coup on September 12, 1980, on September 12, during the death fasts in 1996 and in the period of December 19 massacre. He has been incessantly in prisons for the past 37 years. For him, it is even hard to maintain his and his ward's cleaning, prepare food and do his daily tasks."

CLICK - Ill prisoner is awaiting response from Constitutional Court

According to the data of the Human Rights Association (İHD), there are at least 1,605 ill prisoners in Turkey's prisons; 604 severely ill. (AS/SD)