Forensic medical report says Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk ‘can stay in prison’

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The İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institution has issued a report regarding the medical condition of Democratic Society Party (DTP) former Co-Chair and MP Aysel Tuğluk, who has been behind bars since December 2016. The Institution has concluded that "she can lead her life alone."

The report has indicated that "the execution of her [sentence] can continue in prison conditions by enabling her to receive treatment and regular medical checks at the polyclinic at recommended intervals."

As reported by Zemo Ağgöz from the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the Kocaeli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has rejected Aysel Tuğluk's request for release based on this forensic medical report.

CLICK - Lawyers urge authorities to ensure treatment of jailed Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk

HDP: We don't accept the decision

In his statement about the issue, HDP's Ümit Dede has said:

"Kocaeli University Department of Forensic Medicine issued a committee report indicating that 'her illness has a chronic and progressive course; there may be problems with the adequacy of medical support and care in prison conditions; she cannot lead her life alone in the conditions of the penal institution and; thus, the execution of her sentence should be deferred.'

"Right after this, both her lawyers and prison administration demanded that Ms. Tuğluk be referred to the İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institution.

"We, as her lawyers and the HDP Law Commission, will insistently follow up the necessary administrative, medical and legal means so that the obvious contradiction between the reports of the Kocaeli and İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institutions is eliminated and until her legal rights are protected.

"Within this context, we declare to the public that the application of objection was submitted to the Supreme Board of the Forensic Medicine Institution by her lawyers today. The Forensic Medicine Institution's decision on Aysel Tuğluk is political. We don't accept it."

What happened?

On December 29, 2016, when she was the Vice Co-Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk was arrested along with seven other politicians from the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and the Democratic Society Congress (DTK).

The indictment filed against Tuğluk, who was the DTK Co-Chair till September 2014, brought her statements to the press as well as the funerals that she attended as criminal evidence against the politician.

On March 16, 2018, the Ankara 17th Heavy Penal Court sentenced Aysel Tuğluk to 8 years in prison as per the Anti-Terror Law (TMK) no. 3713. Increasing this prison term by half, the court then gave a 12-years prison sentence to the politician. Lastly, it has decreased this prison sentence by one sixth and ruled that she shall be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

As Aysel Tuğluk's appeal to the Ankara Regional Court of Justice was rejected, her file was sent to the Court of Cassation.

About Aysel Tuğluk

Politician.

She was the founding member and Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) and elected Diyarbakır MP in 2007-2009. She became the Van MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in 2011-2015. She served as the Vice Co-Chair of the HDP responsible for Law and Human Rights.

Aysel Tuğluk was also a member of the Society and Law Studies Foundation Executive Board, a member of the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the founder of the Patriotic Women's Association.

Born in Elazığ in 1965, she graduated from the Faculty of Law of İstanbul University and worked as a self-employed lawyer. (RT/SD)