VAN - Drawing attention that ATK, which reported that he "could be held in prison", violated the principle of equality, attorney Ömer Alagöz said: "Ill prisoners are left dead."

 

Ill prisoners, who are prevented from being released due to the reports given by the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK), are left to die in prisons. According to the data of the Human Rights Association (İHD); There are 1,517 patients under arrest, 651 of whom are seriously ill. According to the same data, 78 prisoners in 2022 and 15 in the first 5 months of 2023 lost their lives in prison. Abdulhalim Kırtay, a 30-year-old prisoner who was on the seriously ill prisoner list of the İHD and was released on March 22, died on May 12. Behçet Kaplan, 31, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization" in 2014 and was imprisoned for 9 years in Bedlis, died on May 15 in Ahlat Type T Prison, where she was held. Most recently, 52-year-old Bişar Yazıcı, who has been imprisoned in Van High Security Closed Prison for more than 2 years and has lung disease, passed away on July 8 at the hospital where he was treated.

 

'PRISONERS ARE LEFT DEAD'

 

Stating that the ATK has completely become an institution of instruction, Attorney Ömer Alagöz said: "Ill prisoners are left dead. Alagöz said: “ATK is not taking any positive steps. This triggers deaths. The deaths continue unabated. Recently, this situation has increased even more. Serious steps need to be taken regarding ill prisoners. In accordance with the principle of equality, everyone should be treated equally, regardless of crime, at least in the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the ECtHR (European Court of Human Rights).

 

‘ATK VIOLATES THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY’

 

Emphasizing that ATK clearly violates the principle of equality, Alagöz said: "A special policy is followed against political prisoners. Although hundreds of detainees cannot meet their needs on their own, their health problems or shelter needs should be provided in more hygienic environments, but unfortunately, as a result of the reports given by the Forensic Medicine Institute, prisoners are sentenced to death in prison. The circular titled 'Proceedings on the Mitigation or Removal of Punishments of Persons Due to Persistent Illness, Injury and Husband' did not yield any results. No concrete steps have been taken regarding this circular so far. There has been no improvement in prison conditions, neither in the conditions of ill prisoners nor in the attitude of ATK in this recent period. It's a circular issued as a joke. It is obvious that the circular does not contribute anything to the political and ill prisoners.”