WAN - Mehtap Işık, the lawyer of ill prisoner Abdurrahman Gemicioğlu, have stated that her client has been transferred to hospital 15 times since his arrest. 

 

Violations against ill prisoners in prisons continue to increase day by day. According to the reports of the Human Rights Association (IHD), there are a total of 1,517 ill prisoners in prisons, 651 of whom are seriously ill. Ill prisoners are not released despite the “cannot stay in prison” reports. 

 

Ill prisoner Abdurrahman Gemicioğlu, 67, was arrested on October 3 after his 8 years and 9 months prison sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals. Gemicioğlu has many diseases such as colon cancer, prostate and heart failure.  For 21 days, Gemicioğlu has been held in Van High Security Prison, during which time he has been hospitalized 15 times for his ailments. 

 

Gemicioğlu's lawyer Mehtap Işık, co-chair of the Lawyers' Association for Freedom (ÖHD) Wan Branch, said that the policy of “revenge” against political prisoners is in effect.  

 

'REPORT DELAYED'

 

Işık stated that her client had been hospitalized 15 times since his imprisonment and that they had applied to the execution directorate for a postponement of execution, but to no avail. Işık stated that Gemicioğlu should have been taken to the committee for a report and that this has been delayed for more than 2 weeks. Işık stated that they are waiting for the committee's report and emphasized that Gemicioğlu, who is being treated for cancer, does not have the conditions to stay in prison. 

 

Noting that all the applications against the isolation policy applied to ill prisoners in recent times have been inconclusive, Işık said that prisoners are left to die and reminded that Serhat Temizer, who was suffering from epilepsy, lost his life in Van Type F Prison. 

 

'POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE BEING AVENGED' 

 

Stating that the demands of political prisoners are not being met, Işık have reminded that Gemicioğlu fell ill while still at home. “He was sent to prison after his tests were done. What kind of bad consequences can the postponement of execution for ill prisoners lead to? We still don't understand. There is no logic for a bedridden, 76-year-old person undergoing cancer treatment to be imprisoned. This person could have served his sentence at home or his execution could have been postponed. A policy is being implemented to take revenge on political prisoners” she said. 

 

'WE DEMAND AN END'

 

Emphasizing that double standards are applied in execution law in Turkey, Işık said that ordinary prisoners are released from prison before completing their sentences. Stating that political prisoners are held in prison “until they die”, Işık said: “We have witnessed the deaths of many political prisoners. Judicial prisoners with a record of 28 crimes are sent to prison after committing the 29th crime and making the news. Political prisoners are also on their deathbeds and have many serious illnesses, but having a single file can be a sufficient reason for arrest. All segments of society must speak up for against the isolation of political prisoners and this dual law. The current government must give up this understanding. We demand an end to the inequality between prisons and improvement of conditions.”