Guards at Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison threaten prisoners with death

Esma Başkale, who is being held in Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison, called her family on Friday and said that their cells were raided by the guards and they were threatened with death. Esma’s sister, Melek Başkale, said that she called the family yesterday, just like every Friday, and told them that the guards search the wards.

Esma Başkale told her family that more than 15 guards raided the ward, telling prisoners ‘We will not give you peace. We will raid the ward every day, not once a week.’

The guards threatened the prisoners with death. Esma said that the search turned into a proper operation and prisoners reacted to it. The guards were intervening physically.

Baskale said that this operation was carried out deliberately, a few days before Newroz, and added: “The prisoners said that they absolutely did not accept this oppressive approach. My sister said that an investigation is launched against the prisoners for the smallest thing and they are given disciplinary punishments. Although they informed the first and second prison directors about the situation they could not get an answer.”

Melek Başkale called for public awareness.