ANKARA - Lawyer Hülya Yıldırım stated that political prisoners in Sincan Women's Closed Prison have not been eligible for parole since 2021. 

 

According to data from the Human Rights Association (IHD), the release of 501 prisoners has been postponed by the Administrative and Observation Boards (IGK) since 2021, when the Regulation on Observation and Classification Centers and Evaluation of Convicts was put into effect. 

 

Political prisoners constitute the majority of those prevented from being released. Especially in Sincan Women's Closed Prison, none of their parole requests have been accepted so far. In this prison, 15 women prisoners who completed their last sentence were prevented from being released. While 5 of these women were released after completing their entire sentences, 10 of them are still waiting for the completion of their parole postponement period. 

 

'BECAUSE THEY SHOW NO REMORSE'

 

Member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Lawyer Hülya Yıldırım said that “lack of remorse” is used as a reason for preventing the release of her clients in Sincan Women's Closed Prison. Yıldırım stated that the board that takes decisions on releases should convene under the chairmanship of the prosecutor, but that the prisoners never see the prosecutor. Yıldırım stated that objection petitions were submitted regarding this issue, but ignored. 

 

OBSTACLE TO RELEASES 

 

Stating that Sincan Women's Closed Prison was chosen as a “pilot” region, Yıldırım said that the possibility of parole from this prison is de facto eliminated and that this is ill-treatment. Defining the situation as “persecution of people”, Yıldırım said that especially women cannot benefit from the right to parole. 

 

'RIGHT TO HEALTH IS PREVENTED'

 

Emphasizing that the law is not applied in Sincan Prison, Yıldırım said that prisoners' right to treatment is also prevented. Yıldırım stated that prisoners are not given appointments for the infirmary and hospital, and those that are given for very distant dates, and when the date comes, prisoners are prevented from being transferred. Yıldırım continued as follows: “Prisoners not only have difficulties in accessing hospitals, but are also prevented from applying the prescriptions given for their treatment in prisons. When you look at it, it seems like there is a complete prison system with everything, but this is not the case. Let's say that the person has done all these things, the examinations are over, the diagnosis is made, and the physician presents a prescription for the treatment related to the diagnosis. This time, we have problems with the implementation of this treatment prescription in prison. What are these problems? For example, diet food is not given. Now the person has been diagnosed and is in some kind of treatment, but nutrition, which is part of the treatment, is not provided to the person. In fact, we are again faced with a violation in terms of health service.” 

 

'THEY ARE BEING ISOLATED'

 

Referring to the situation of prisoner Selver Yıldırım, who has 85 percent vision loss, Yıldırım said: “She has 85 percent visual impairment and the reason for this visual impairment is due to incorrect or delayed treatment in her previous prisons. Today, she is receiving treatment for this visual disability at the City Hospital. But not only are these treatments delayed, but the magnifying glass, which is part of her treatment, is not given to her by the prison administration on security grounds. Or, since it is not possible for her to read books because she has 15 percent vision, our request for audio books or a radio is not accepted. This is also social isolation for the person. Yes, there is a physical visual impairment. But apart from that, you are also isolating this person socially. This brings with it a separate health problem.”

 

'THERE MUST BE A SOCIAL REACTION'

 

Stating that the legal process is important, but it is not enough, Yıldırım said that a social reaction is needed. “Today, the isolation in prisons, all the problems in prisons are actually being experienced in society. These are situations that reflect each other, so we should not see these issues in society as independent from this” she said.