Violation of Rights in Tarsus Prison on Parliamentary Agenda

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Indicating that the prisoners held in Tarsus Prison Campus in Mersin have been subjected to serious violation of rights, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel has submitted a Parliamentary question to Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül.

Claiming that the Ministry does not take any action to address the allegations, Güzel has underlined that the violation of rights that started with the State of Emergency has been continuing for a long time.

Indicating that torture and ill treatment systematically continue in prisons, she has referred to letters by the inmates of Tarsus No. 3 Type T Closed Prison, raising her concerns that they are faced with violation of rights.

They told the violations by letter

Referring to the letters of prisoners sent to her, Güzel has stated that the inmates of Tarsus Prison were forced to walk in a single line, to take a roll-call while standing and to introduce themselves by their names as if they were in the army on July 13, 2019. "These practices are reminiscent of the September 12 coup period," Güzel has underlined.

Inmates have also stated that when they objected to these practices, they were subjected to the insults and physical violence of prison personnel and the arbitrary disciplinary punishments of the prison administration.

Emphasizing that, as per the penal law, the protection of human dignity shall be deemed essential in counting the prisoners, Güzel has asked a series of questions to Minister Gül, including the following:

• Even though the related violation of rights that the inmates of Tarsus Type T Closed Prison are subjected to has been continuing for a long time, why has no action been taken?
• The Penal Law indicates that human dignity shall be considered essential during the count of inmates. Accordingly, on what legal grounds have the inmates who did not accept counting on foot been given disciplinary punishments?
• Considering the violation of rights, primarily violence and battery, inflicted on the prisoners of Tarsus No. 3 Type T Closed Prison who did not accept being counted on foot, will an inspector be appointed by your Ministry to conduct an examination and investigation?
• Is there a unit appointed by your Ministry to investigate the violation of rights committed in Tarsus Type T Closed Prison?
• How many complaints have been submitted to your Ministry and the relevant units regarding the allegations of torture in Tarsus Type T Closed Prison? Against how many of them has an investigation been launched? What sanctions have been imposed against the administration as a result of these investigations?
• How many applications have been submitted to the Prison Directorate and Judgeship of Execution Penal Directorates? How many of these applications have been responded?

(HA/SD)