DİYARBAKIR - Stating that there has been a significant increase in the number of applications made to them regarding violations of rights in prisons, İHD Diyarbakır Branch Secretary Yakup Güven said that the opposition is acting in line with the government regarding violations of rights in prison.

 

Deaths under suspicious circumstances in Turkish prisons increases on a daily basis. Kadri Ekici in Diyarbakır High Security Closed Prison No. 2 on July 22 and Mehmet Yılmaz in Urfa Type E Closed Prison on July 25 lost their lives under suspicious circumstances. According to the data of the Human Rights Association (İHD), 40 prisoners lost their lives in the first 7 months of 2022, and 15 of these deaths were reported as deaths under suspicious circumstances.

 

Making evaluations about the violations of rights and deaths in prisons in Turkey, İHD Diyarbakır Branch Secretary Attorney Yakup Güven stated that as the İHD, they are concerned about the life safety of the prisoners.

 

'THERE IS NO LEGAL MECHANISM TO FILE A LAW SUIT'

 

Güven noted that there has been an increase in the number of deaths in Turkish prisons. Stating that it is necessary to investigate whether the prisoners who lost their lives in the prison were killed or not, Güven underlined that it is necessary to investigate whether the prison staff had involvement with the crime committed in these deaths. Güven said, “Prison staff are responsible for the safety of the prisoners. Recently, we have received many requests and complaints regarding prison applications, but no effective investigation has been carried out. The lawsuits filed were all closed with a decision of non-prosecution. Unfortunately, there is no legal mechanism to prosecute or bring those responsible to justice, even if something happens in prisons."

 

'NO INVESTIGATIONS ARE LAUNCHED TO INVESTIGATE THESE DEATHS'

 

Noting that there has been a significant increase in the number of applications made to them regarding violations of rights in prisons, Güven noted that illegal practices in prisons have also increased in applications and said, “Prison administrations do not investigate the complaints that the relatives of the prisoners convey to them. Hospitals do not report that prisoners are tortured, and letters sent to detainees to institutions and associations due to torture are confiscated.”

 

'MINISTER OF JUSTICE PAVES OVER THE TORTURE'

 

Noting that the policies of impunity paved the way for torture in prisons, Güven reminded the Minister of Justice, who said, "There is no torture in prisons," and said, "The Minister of Justice is responsible for prisons. While the Minister of Justice paves over the justice, guards continue to torture the prisoners easily."

 

'OPPOSITION LEGITIMIZES THE GOVERNMENT'

 

Stating that the opposition adopts a similar stance with the government regarding torture in prisons, Güven said, "They always legitimise the government. The opposition parties have no attempt to solve the Kurdish problem or the torture in prison. Because they do not consider it a problem. The opposition needs to take sincere steps for the Kurdish issue and the legal implementation in the prison."