‘Prisoners complain about pandemic restrictions’

* Photo: MA

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The Adana Branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) has released its report on violations of rights in prisons in Çukurova region.

The report has been prepared based on the meetings of İHD lawyers with the prisoners held in Küçükler Type F, Osmaniye Type T1 and T2, Türkoğlu Type L1 and L2 and Ceyhan Type M Prisons.

In preparing the report, the association has also evaluated the news reported in the press regarding the restrictions and violations of rights in prisons, especially the right to access healthcare, amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The report has also covered the complaints submitted by prisoners and their relatives.

'We wash disposable masks, wear them again'

According to the report prepared by the Adana Provincial Branch of the İHD in Turkey's Mediterranean region, the highest number of complaints were about the pandemic restrictions in the last three months of 2020:

"In talks held with 20 prisoners from four different prisons, similar statements were made, especially as to the practices during the pandemic. Apart from this, each prison has problems of its own."

According to the report, M.G., a convict from the Kürkçüler Type F Prison, has shared the following information with the İHD:

"While three people were staying in rooms before the pandemic, a person now stays with three others. As some convicts have to stay alone due to the quarantine, the lack of rooms is used as an excuse. In fact, the real aim is to prevent our rooms from being closer to one another by not increasing the number of rooms. A friend of ours has to sleep on the floor because of this. The floor is concrete, damp and mouldy; the conditions are not healthy.

"All activities have been suspended, with the pandemic cited as the reason.

"We are very rarely given masks. They say, 'We cannot give you different masks everytime you leave the ward. Wash the disposable one and wear it again.' We are forced to wash and use them again in case of need.

"While I went to make a phone call, there were masks on the table; however, the warden still did not give me one even though I asked for it. When I said that I could not make a phone call without wearing a mask, they kept me waiting for 4-5 hours to make a call.

"Disinfectants, eau de cologne and wet wipes are not given to our wards. They spray disinfectants on our hands when we go to make a call.

"They sometimes give liquid soap as a cleaning supply, but, apart from this, we buy all cleaning supplies within the institution with our own means."

'Eliminate the violations of rights'

Concluding the statement, the İHD has listed a series of recommendations to ensure that "the violations of rights are eliminated based on universal legal principles and fundamental rights granted by the laws."

Calling on the relevant state institutions and non-governmental organizations to take action to solve the problems in prisons, the association has underlined that prisons should be open to regular administrative inspections and monitoring of independent civilian organizations. (AS/SD)