ÊLIH – The release of İbrahim Tekin, a political prisoner for 30 years, has been postponed by 11 months after he refused to accept a forced declaration of “regret”. Tekin said, “Even if I die, I will never accept this imposition.”

 

The administrative and Observation Board (İGK) of Şakran Prison in Aliağa, İzmir, delayed the release of Tekin, 67, who suffers from goiter, respiratory problems and hernia. The delay stems from his refusal to sign a document expressing “regret”. 

 

Son of İbrahim Tekin Rezan Tekin said his father has been transferred between several prisons, including Antalya, İzmir and Sêrt (Siirt), and has been held in İzmir for the past 15 years. “He entered prison in good health, but after 30 years of torture, my father now relies on a machine to breathe,” he said. 

 

Rezan added that on May 4, his father called to inform him of the board’s decision and said, “He told me they pressured him to express regret, but he refused. That is why his release was postponed. He said, ‘Even if I die, I won’t accept this.’ We, as his family, also reject this imposition. The board responsible for this injustice must be immediately dissolved.”

 

WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR HIS RELEASE

 

Tekin’s family has made preparations for his return. Rezan said, “He has seven children and 15 grandchildren. We were all waiting for his release. During his time in prison, his mother, father, and siblings passed away, yet he was not allowed to attend their funerals. Now his release is postponed again. If he remains imprisoned, his health will worsen. He must be released immediately, not just my father, but all prisoners like him,” Rezan said.

 

END THIS INJUSTICE

 

Gülşen Tekin, İbrahim Tekin’s niece, also called for his immediate release. Highlighting the unlawful decisions made by prison boards, she said, “My uncle was subjected to severe torture when he was first arrested. He’s been in prison for over 30 years. We were ready to welcome him home, but they crushed our hopes. This is cruelty. Ill prisoners must be released immediately. This injustice must end.”

 

TORTURE AND EXTRACTION OF TEETH

 

İbrahim Tekin was arrested in Antalya in 1995 and later sentenced to life imprisonment by the İzmir State Security Court on charges of “disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state.” Following his arrest, he endured 30 days of torture, during which all his teeth were pulled out with pliers. The cost of his dentures was then charged to his family.

 

MA / Fethi Balaman