İHD finds 102 cases of rights violations in four months in 10 prisons

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The Human Rights Association (İHD) İzmir Branch has released a report on rights violations in 10 prisons in the Aegean Region, western Turkey.

Based on applications from prisoners, attorneys' statements and news, the report lists 38 different types of rights violations, including maltreatment, violence and discrimination.

A total of 102 cases have been recorded, according to the report.

Violations of prisoners' right to healthcare "turn diseases into torture," said the İHD, noting that there are currently at least 1,564 ill prisoners in Turkey's prisons, 590 of which are seriously ill.

"Under the pretext of the period of the pandemic, prisoners' treatment is delayed or not done at all," said the association.

It added that independent healthcare organizations should be allowed to carry out examinations in prisons.

Some of the rights violations reported by prisoners, attorneys and media:

• There are infectious diseases in prisons and adequate measures and precautions are not taken

• Torture and maltreatment

• Guards beat and torture prisoners

• Overcrowded wards

• Violations of the right to healthcare

• Restrictions and bans on books, magazines and newspapers

• Petitions remain unanswered

• Workshops, sports and cultural activities are prevented

• Confinement practices, arbitrary solitary confinement penalties

• Medicine and special diet for diseases are not regularly provided to prisoners or not provided at all

• Prisoners use beds alternately and some sleep on the ground

• The environment is not hygienic

• Prisoners' belongings are seized during arbitrary searches

• Violations of the right to communicate with the outside world

• Basic needs such as food and water are not adequately provided and this is used as a punishment

• Prisoners are not allowed to go to the infirmary

• Letters prisoners send to the İHD and other organizations are seized

• Contact visits are not allowed

• Family visits are restricted and arbitrarily cut short

• Prisoners are forced to strip search after family visits

• Heating problems in the winter

• Women prisoners have difficulties accessing personal hygiene products such as sanitary napkins

• Prisoners cannot access drinking water if they don't have money

• Prisoners on a hunger strike are given disciplinary penalties and are not provided with vitamin B1 and D3. (KÖ/VK)