Prisoner paralyzed from neck down not released

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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"Abdullah Turan has been held on a stretcher in the Metris Type R Closed Penal Institution for nearly a year now. The report prepared by the 3rd Specialization Board of the Forensic Medicine Institution has indicated that Turan is bed-ridden, he cannot meet any of his needs by himself, his imprisonment poses a risk to his life and he is not in a state to stay in prison as per the Article 16/6 of the Law no. 5275."

However, ill prisoner Abdullah Turan is neither receiving treatment for his condition, nor is he released from prison.

In a joint press statement held by the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch Prisons' Commission and the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) in the İHD İstanbul office in Beyoğlu today (December 16), the organizations have announced that they will file a criminal complaint against the hospital hindering the treatment of Turan.

Constitutional Court rejected the application as well

The press statement was attended by Abdullah Turan's family members as well as human rights defenders. As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), İHD İstanbul Branch Chair Gülseren Yoleri has underlined that ill prisoners constitute the main issue for prisons and raised concerns that prisoners are abandoned to death behind four walls.

İHD Prisons' Commission Spokesperson Mehmet Acettin has also indicated that after he got his neck broken and underwent a surgical operation, Abdullah Turan has been paralyzed from the neck down. Acettin has noted that while an application was made to the Constitutional Court to suspend the execution of Turan's prison sentence as a precaution, this request has been rejected by the supreme court and Turan is not released.

Underlining that the state is responsible for the lives of prisoners, Acettin has said that Turan should be released and receive the necessary treatment.

Criminal complaint against the hospital

Father Mehmet Zait Turan has also stated that his son has serious diseases and his condition has deteriorated over the last few days. Turan has called on the authorities to release his son Abdullah Turan.

Lawyer Esra Arin from the ÖHD has reiterated that ill prisoner Turan is not released despite the forensic medical report:

"Turan is taken even to treatment in handcuffs. As he does not accept treatment because of this, the prison administration gives the excuse that Turan does not accept treatment.

"Prison is not a place suitable for the treatment of Turan's condition. We will apply to the relevant authorities about this and file a criminal complaint against the hospital that does not take a step for his treatment."

CLICK - Two Paralyzed Prisoners and One Prisoner Who Does Not Have Hands Stay in Same Cell

According to the Human Rights Association (İHD) Central Prisons' Commission report, as of April 2020, there were 1,546 ill prisons in Turkey and 591 of them were in critical condition. (AS/SD)