Ill prisoners in prisons are left to die in plain sight under the control of the state. 81-year-old Abdulalim Kaya, a seriously ill prisoner who was reported by the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) as "can stay in prison" despite his many illnesses, is just one of these prisoners.

 

Kaya can't see in his left eye, can't hear in his left ear, his kidneys have failed, he had prostate surgery, he has dementia and he had angiography due to heart disease. Kaya was given a 93 percent disability report by Siirt Training and Research Hospital on October 12, 2022, but despite his illness, he is not released.

 

SENTENCED FOR 5 YEARS

 

Kaya was sentenced to 5 years in prison for a press statement he attended in 2008 on the grounds that "Commits a crime on behalf of a terrorist organization, although he is not a member of it, will also be punished for being a member of the organization" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization". His sentence was approved by the Supreme Court in 2011. Kaya, who was arrested on October 14, 2020 after having surgery for prostate disease in Bursa. Kaya was placed in Bursa Type H Closed Prison and held in a room alone for 60 days. As a result of the applications, Kaya's sentence was postponed for 6 months on January 4, 2021. Applications for the postponement of the sentence for Kaya, who was arrested again on March 31, 2023 and sent to Batman Type M Closed Prison, despite his health problems, were rejected due to the "he may stay in prison" report given by the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) on August 31, 2023.

 

Kaya, who can get around with a wheelchair and cannot survive on her own, was once again referred to ATK, and on March 11, a report was given saying "He can meet his own needs and stay in prison".

 

HELD IN A SOLITARY CELL

 

Kaya was transferred from Bursa Type H Closed Prison to Batman Closed Prison, then to Elazığ Type E Closed Prison, Beşiri High Security Type T Prison and finally to Elazığ Type R Closed Prison. Kaya's son, Ismail Kaya, stated that during their last visit, they learned that his father was being held in a solitary cell there as well. Kaya said that their applications to the prosecutor's office and the Presidential Communication Center (CIMER) for his father, 13 months after his last detention, were rejected. 

 

Underlining that his father's condition is getting worse day by day, Kaya said: “He cannot walk and travels in a wheelchair. He was held in a solitary cell for 3 months in Elazığ. When we went to see him, he couldn't speak. After 3 months, they sent him back to the prison in the center of Batman. He was held there for about 7 months.”

 

NEWS OF DEATH MAY COME AT ANY TIME

 

Stating that his father was transferred to Beşiri High Security Prison a month ago and then to Elazığ Type R Prison, Kaya said: “I called the prison the other day, but they said they could not give information because it was the weekend. We are worried about my father's condition, news of his death may come at any time. We are devastated when we get a call from a foreign phone number because we have news about my father. Because he is very ill, he was sent from Êlih to Beşiri and from Beşiri to Elazığ. No prison cares anymore. Prison officials we spoke to; 'We are in a more difficult situation than you. You come and look for an hour and leave, but we stop by ten times a day. To see if he is dead or not? We don't understand why they are doing this to this man.' He can't even go to the toilet on his own because he is in a wheelchair."

 

APPLICATION TO CIMER

 

Stating that he applied to CİMER two months ago and stated that there is a 93 percent disability report issued by Siirt State Hospital about his father, Kaya said: “I forwarded that report along with my father's pictures. However, the answer I was given was, 'He can stay in prison, he will serve his full sentence.'"

 

HE TRANSFERRED IN HANDCUFFS

 

Reminding that his father was transferred to Istanbul ATK again a month ago (March), Kaya said: “They took my father to Istanbul a month ago. My father was taken from prison to Istanbul, both handcuffed and blindfolded. My father said to us; 'They didn't open my eyes even for a second. I didn't know where I was being taken. When I asked a soldier, 'Where are we now?', he said, 'Uncle, you are in Istanbul.' They gave a report that a person who could not meet his illnesses and needs could stay in prison."