Ill prisoners' families start keeping a justice watch

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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The families of ill prisoners met in the office of Diyarbakır Bar Association yesterday (November 16) and raised concerns and publicity about the violations of rights being committed in Turkey's prisons.

Hakkı Botan, the father of ill prisoner Civan Boltan held in Bolu Type F Closed Prison; İnci Güler, the sister of ill prisoner Abdulselam Güler held in Diyarbakır Type D Closed Prison; Hasime Güler, the wife of ill prisoner Sıddık Güler held in İskenderun Prison; Fevzi Kolakan, the mother of ill prisoner Ahmet Kolakan held in Bandırma Type No. Prison and Selma Özkan, the daughter of ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan held in Diyarbakır Type D Prison, announced that they started keeping a "Justice Watch".

Bar promises legal support

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Diyarbakır Bar Association Chair lawyer Nahit Eren and bar association's executive board members listened to the requests of the families staging a sit-in protest.

Noting that they, as the Diyarbakır Bar, have been closely following the problems faced by ill prisoners, Eren said that they would make efforts to raise public awareness and sensitivity about the problems and demands for justice. He also promised legal support to the families as the bar.

Families talked about ill prisoners' health

Hasime Güler said that her spouse Sıddık Güler underwent angiography two times due to hypertension and he is now wheelchair bound as a result. Noting that he cannot meet his needs himself, Güler said that her spouse also had COVID-19 twice in this period.

Fevziye Kolakan stated that her son Ahmet Kolakan has problems with his cardiac valves, he does not want to undergo surgery without his family, but this is not allowed. She called on the authorities to release his son so that his treatment can be done with his family by his side.

Speaking about the condition of 83-year-old ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan, who is not released despite a 87-percent disability report, his daughter Selma Özkan said that the condition of her father is known by the public but the authorities do not take any action about this:

"We cannot even receive a phone call from my father anymore. We don't know his condition. An intervention should be made before it is too late."

Hakkı Boltan also said that his son Civan Boltan did not have vision in one eye, does not have one hand and has a sharpnel piece in his brain. Noting that his son cannot meet his needs himself because of this reason, Boltan indicated that his son should be released:

"Why we come here today is to set off a public reaction. We will continue keeping this watch until we get results." (KÖ/SD)