68 women's rights organizations said in a statement about the deteriorating health condition of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) former MP Aysel Tuğluk, that "it is time to be in solidarity with Aysel Tuğluk", underlining that "the administrative and legal authorities who ignored the report saying 'she cannot stay in prison' will be responsible for any unfavourable consequences concerning Tuğluk's health."

 

The 68 women's organizations have urged the authorities to release Tuğluk so that her treatment can continue properly. Tuğluk’s lawyers had said in a statement a few days ago, that she has memory loss and cannot do her daily activities on her own. The politician has been behind bars since 2016. The Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution issued a report saying that Tuğluk could stay in prison, while the Kocaeli Medical Institution gave a report saying the opposite, that she cannot stay in prison. All the requests for her release filed by her lawyers have been rejected.

 

The statement said: "As everyone knows, Aysel Tuğluk witnessed the racist attack against her mother's funeral and this inhuman attitude left irreparable damage on her memory. Undertaking her treatment and medical examination for months, the Kocaeli Medical Faculty's Forensic Medicine Institution unanimously prepared a report indicating that she was not in a condition to stay in prison; despite this report, a new report issued by the İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institude, controlled by Turkish state, stated the exact opposite. Her lawyers' appeal to the 'Supreme Board' against the contradictory reports is left unanswered; the deterioration of her illness is ignored."

 

The statement continued: "We object to what Aysel Tuğluk, as a politician who has fought against all types of violence against women for years and struggled for women's freedom, is made to go through today; we demand her release. In the light of our demand for 'Justice for Women', we also reiterate our demand for freedom for Tuğluk and all women who are imprisoned for political reasons like her. The Turkish state, primarily the Justice Ministry, is responsible for the failure to fulfil the requirements of the comprehensive committee report stating that Aysel Tuğluk cannot stay in prison. The administrative and legal authorities who ignore the report will be responsible for any unfavorable consequences concerning Tuğluk's health."

 

The statement called on all authorities who have a role in this unlawful process imposed on her to act in line with law, science and conscience; recall that Tuğluk must be freed as soon as possible so that her treatment can continue properly and reiterate our call for solidarity."

 

The signatories are as follows: 

 

Adalar Foundation Women's Working Group, Adana Women's Platform, AĞ-DA Gender Equality Solidarity Network, Alevi Women's Union, Anatolian Women's Movement, Women from Ankara Solidarity Academy (ADA), Ankara Women's Platform, Antalya Women's Counseling Center and Solidarity Association, Aramızda (Between Us) Gender Studies Association, European Alevi Women's Union, Ben Seçerim (I Choose) Association, Association for Combating Sexual Violence, Datça Women's Platform, DAD Women's Assembly, Women's State of Solidarity Association (DAKAHDER), Demir Leblebi Women's Association, Democratic Alevi Associations Women's Assembly, Democratic Alevi Women's Union, Dikili Women's Platform, Diyarbakır Bar Association Women's Rights Center, Ekmek ve Gül Magazine, Women from Labor Party, Eskişehir School Research and Solidarity Association-Gender Working Group, Monitoring for Equality Women's Group-EŞİTİZ, Home-Based Employees Union, Foça Peace Women, Günebakan Women's Association, Halkevci Women, Hatay Women are Strong Together, Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Muğla Women's Assembly, HDP Adana Women's Council, HDP Balıkesir Women's Council, HDP Hatay Women's Council, Hubyar Women's Council, İskenderun Women's Platform, İzmir Women's Solidarity Association, Women's Solidarity, Women's Party, Women's Human Rights – New Solutions Association, Women Writers Association, Kadınlar Birlikte Güçlü (Women are Strong Together), Kağıthane HDP Women's Organization, Karaburun Women's Platform, Katre Women's Counseling and Solidarity Association, Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) Women's Assembly, Kırkyama Women's Solidarity, Kırmızı Biber (Red Pepper) Association, Körfez Independent Women's Solidarity, Mavigöl Women's Association, Mersin Alevi Women's Platform, Mimoza Women's Association- Mersin, Purple Solidarity, Mor Sarmaşık, Muğla Emek Benim (Labor is Mine) Women's Association, Muğla Women's Solidarity and Consultation Association, Lawyers' Association for Freedom Women's Commission, Libertarian Democrat Lawyers (ÖDAV), Rosa Women's Association, SES Equality and Justice Women's Platform, Socialist Women's Assemblies, Women with TİP, TJA (Tevgera Jinên Azad) Free Women's Movement, Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Women's Medicine and Women's Health Branch, Van Women's Platform, Van Star Women's Association, Wernicke Korsakoff patients and Former Prisoners/Çukurova, Yan Yana (Side by Side) Initiative Women, Yaşamevi (Life House) Women's Solidarity Association.