Turkey’s prisons ‘save on bread’ during the pandemic

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The Civil Society in the Penal System Association (CİSST) has shared the findings of its May 2021 monthly report on the complaints of prisoners amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Publicizing its report with a press statement, the CİSST has listed the prisoners' problems with accessing hygiene and healthcare.

In preparing the report, the Association has documented the complaints submitted to the CİSST hotline from May 1 to 30, 2021; the information as to the prisons and prisoners has been kept confidential.

Since the pandemic broke out, applications have been made to the Association from 88 closed penal institutions and 49 open penal institutions.

The following complaints about food have been listed in the May 2021 report of the CİSST Association:

Meals fall short of meeting needs

* The food offered in some closed prisons is of poor quality, it is not hygienic and meals are served cold.

* The meals fall short of meeting the needs of all prisoners.

* Unable to eat the food distributed in prisons due to all these reasons, prisoners are forced to use the canteen to fulfil their nutritional needs.

* The number of bread served with meals has dropped; their weight in grammes and quality have decreased.

* While there was a balance between meat and carbohydrates in the meals distributed in prisons, rice and pasta are predominantly served now.

* While the complaints about food have been notified to all public institutions, no improvement has been witnessed.

* Products sold at canteens are expensive, their product range is narrow.

* No diet meal is offered; in prisons where diet meals are served, a single-type diet meal is offered without taking diseases into consideration.

* No vitamins or immune-enhancing supplements are offered.

(AS/SD)

* Click here for the full report (in Turkish)