ANKARA - Human rights and legal organizations called for "justice" by taking action to find the family of prisoner Muhammed Mahmud Derviş, who has not been tortured for 8 years.

 

Human rights and legal organizations took action regarding the situation of Mohammed Mahmud Derviş, who was subjected to inhumane practices during the fight against ISIS and in the prison where he was held after he was handed over to Turkey. After the story of Derviş, who was held in Kırşehir Type S Closed Prison, was brought to the agenda by the Mesopotamia Agency (MA), a mobilization was launched to find Derviş's family in both Northern and Eastern Syria and Belgium.

 

Finally, the Human Rights Association (İHD) applied to the Belgian Embassy of Turkey for Derviş, who has been looking for his family for years. While no response has been given to the application yet, Representatives of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD), Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and İHD were called for sensitivity on the issue so that Derviş can continue his life in humane conditions in prison and his family can be found as soon as possible.

 

VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS IN PRISONS

 

Noting that violations of rights in prisons have become routine, ÖHD Ankara Branch Co-Chair Fevzi Korkmaz listed the violations they encountered during their periodic prison visits as an association; "Battery, torture, holding the prisoners in solitary cells, imposing a stripped search, intermittent search, disrupting the treatment processes of ill prisoners, imposing handcuffed examinations, not giving drugs, not giving books and publications and having them confiscated, right to chat, restriction of sports and cultural activities, not burning the heaters, not paying attention to the needs of children who stay in prison with their mothers, not serving the needs of the children in prison with their mothers, not serving the needs of the children in prison together with their mothers, not serving the needs of the children in prison together with their mothers, not serving the food portions, arbitrarily penalizing and unhygienic Kurdish magazines, not serving food, punishment and unhygienic prices of Kurdish magazines, overcharging of the canteen price, exile to prisons miles away from their families, arbitrary executions.”

 

'WE SHOULD TAKE ACTION FOR DERVİŞ'

 

Noting that Derviş was also exposed to similar violations, Korkmaz said: “Being a poet/Kurdish father and an Arab mother, M. Mahmut Derviş, a Syrian national, has been subjected to severe torture throughout his life. So much so that he lost his right foot due to these tortures. There is hardly a single part of his body that does not have traces of torture. The fact that Derviş, who has very serious health problems, is unaware of his family and that he does not have a lawyer because he does not have a guardian, makes prison conditions unbearable. All relevant institutions, especially the Ministry of Justice, the prison administration and political parties, and the public should take action to end Derviş's exposure."

 

'DERVİŞ IS DENIED OF HIS RIGHTS'

 

Stating that Derviş was left without legal support due to the lack of communication with any guardian and family, and said that Derviş had financial problems because money could not be deposited into his account. The translator said: “Everything in prison is paid. This is why they are deprived of many rights, including postage fees for communication. He gets support from his friends even for the letter he sent us. The translator said that attempts should be made by the administration to find the family of Muhammad Derviş. In addition, the prosthesis needs to be resolved as soon as possible, taking into account its condition.”

 

CALL FOR SOLIDARITY

 

Ceren Yılmaz, member of the CHD Prisons Commission, called for "justice" for Derviş.  Yılmaz said: "The physical and psychological violence in prisons is increasing day by day. The torture and isolation are implemented in the Type F prisons in the past continues in the High Security Prison and Type S prisons today. Derviş, who was tortured in Kırşehir Type S Prison, is one of the most concrete subjects of this issue. There are nearly 2,000 ill prisoners in prisons, we called for solidarity with the public to find Derviş's family and to end the torture he was subjected to."

 

MA / Firat Can Arslan