It is stated that 15 prisoners in Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison in Istanbul, who were expected to be released on parole in August, September and October, were prevented from being released for 1 year each by the Administration and Observation Board (İGK) on the grounds of solitary confinement sentences given to them on various dates. Human Rights Association (IHD) Co-Chair Eren Keskin visited the prison on October 17 and described the violations the prisoners were subjected to.

 

Stating that 15 prisoners have been in prison for a long time, Keskin says the reason for the prevention of their release is the arbitrary practices of the İGKs. 

 

Reminding that in the past, 25 prisoners were given 10-day solitary confinement sentences based on their conversations and notes they kept, Keskin said that these sentences were used by the İGK as a reason for delaying their release. Keskin stated that solitary confinement was used to postpone execution. Noting that the Administrative and Observation Boards act as a “parallel court”.

 

“Decisions are taken especially against political prisoners. Prisoners object, but they are usually rejected,” Keskin said. 

 

Expressing that prisoners' freedom of expression is prevented, Keskin said that prisoners are sentenced to solitary confinement because of the notes they keep on the subjects they read or talk about. “Women are given solitary confinement on the grounds of these notes. You are preventing the freedom of expression of a person you have already imprisoned for their thoughts. This is really irrational,” Keskin said.  

 

'SEARCH' PRESSURE AND SHOE REMOVAL 

 

Stating that wards in Bakırköy Prison are frequently raided under the name of “search”, Keskin said that prisoners are disturbed by this situation. Stating that old practices such as “taking off shoes” continue, Keskin said: “Women prisoners still have to go to lawyer visits without shoes. They usually go in slippers, but due to the lack of slippers, some of them have to go barefoot.” 

 

CONDITION OF SERIOUSLY ILL PRISONER TOKMAK

 

Referring to the situation of ill prisoners in prison, Keskin reminded that her client Fatma Tokmak sentenced to 10 days of solitary confinement despite her deteriorating health condition. Reminding that Tokmak has a heart disease, Keskin said: “The state knows very well Fatma Tokmak's illness because she was released in 2005 with a forensic medical report due to her illness. However, when her sentence was finalized, she was arrested again and her illness worsened. Now, she has been sentenced to 10 days in solitary confinement on the grounds of the notes she kept. The day I went, she was in a really bad condition. She said she cannot breathe. She spends her time in solitary confinement. This is really an inhumane practice.” 

 

HANDCUFFED EXAMINATION TORTURE 

 

Saying that another ill prisoner, Kıymet Ilgaz, was not transferred to a hospital because she refused to be examined in handcuffs, Keskin continued as follows: “Kıymet Ilgaz is under suspicion of breast cancer. A mass was detected in her breast but she does not want to go to the hospital. Because she knows she will have to be examined in handcuffs. The handcuffs are not removed at the hospital. According to the Istanbul Protocol, prisoners should be taken to the doctor without handcuff, but the soldiers do not remove the handcuffs and the doctors do not take a stance against this. There are serious problems in prison.”  

 

MA / Ferdi Bayram