Prisoners in Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison investigated for shaking hands

Every day new reports about violations of rights in Turkish prisons are coming through. This time it has been reported that even shaking hands and hugging are prohibited.

Many prisoners in Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison were subject to disciplinary investigations due to shaking hands and hugging.

On 28 January prisoners Ayten Anlaş, Dilek Tataş, Elif Yas, Esra Soyaktaş, Gamze Nihal Iyidogan, Gunes Akan, Hatice Duman, Hiyam Yolcu Akyol, Nurcan Demir, Serpil Cabadan, Songül Dilek, Zeynep Yeter and Zühal Sürücü, had an open visit with their relatives. A disciplinary investigation was initiated after the visit on the grounds that relatives and prisoners “shake hands” and “hug”.

The prison administration cited the Covid-19 outbreak as the reason for the investigation opened on 1 February.

The handshake, hugging and reaction of the prisoners to the intervention of the guards were evaluated as “action” (i.e. protest) by the prison administration that demanded a written or verbal “defense” from the detainees within three days and threatened that if they did not receive any statement, they would consider as a renunciation of the right to defense.