ERZIROM - Çetin Tutkun, an ill prisoner in Tekirdağ Type F High Security Prison, told his family that he was subjected to violence because he objected to strip search.

 

Çetin Tutkun was arrested after being detained in Qereyazî (Karayazı) district of Erzirom (Erzurum) in 2012. Tutkun was charged with "terror organization membership", "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state", "attempted murder of a public officer" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization". Erzurum 4th High Criminal Court sentenced Tutkun to aggravated life imprisonment and 28 years and 6 months in 2013. Tutkun, who was transferred to Tekirdağ Type F High Security Closed Prison No 2, has diseases such as restless leg syndrome, thyroid, gastritis, ulcer, sleep apnoea, nerve damage in the right and left legs and varicose veins.

 

STRIP SEARCH AND VIOLENCE

 

In a telephone conversation with his family, Tutkun said that he had been subjected to some violations of his rights. Tutkun's son, Bırusk Tutkun, said that his father was facing pressure, ill-treatment and death threats in prison. Bırusk Tutkun said, "My father says that a prisoner died before as a result of the same pressures and now he is facing the same threat. My father said he was threatened by the prison prosecutor, guards and the director. He was also subjected to physical violence for refusing strip searches. We know that anyone who does not accept this faces the same treatment."

 

Stating that there were similar threats before and their complaints were inconclusive, son Tutkun said, "My father is sick from his knees and stomach. There are official reports about this and a special diet list was prepared. However, the prison administration does not apply this list. He is prevented from travelling to the hospital on arbitrary grounds. As his family and lawyers, we have repeatedly written petitions to the Ministry of Justice and CIMER. However, all applications remained unanswered."

 

Tutkun added, "We met with lawyers and analysed the file in detail. There is no criminal offence. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, he was sentenced only on the basis of daily phone calls. This is a clear violation of rights. I call on all human rights organisations for these violations of my father's rights. Prisoners are being deprived of their most basic rights. There are torture, ill-treatment and death threats in prisons."