Prison Visits, Court Hearings Suspended over Coronavirus

Photo: Ayça Söylemez / bianet

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İstanbul Courthouse has taken measures against the new coronavirus outbreak, suspending some hearings.

Until April 14, only the hearings where the defendants are remanded in custody and "urgent hearings" will be held, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. The defendants will not be brought to the courthouse and will attend hearings via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül announced later in the day that non-urgent hearings would be suspended throughout the country.

Turkey has so far confirmed 18 cases of Covid-19.

Earlier, Minister Gül announced that all visits in open and closed prisons were suspended for two weeks.

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Inmates who work outside as part of the prison workshops will be separated from other inmates, the minister stated Friday (March 13).

Those who show Covid-19 symptoms would not be put in prison until they were treated, the Gül further said.

He added that transfers between prisons would also be suspended for two weeks and temperatures of all people who enter prisons would be taken.

The minister said adjournment of non-urgent hearings would be left at the discretion of the members of the judiciary. (EKN/VK)