The prison’s Administrative Observation Board in Sincan prevents women prisoners from exercising their right to conditional release on the grounds of “good conduct” evaluations. Since January 2021, no prisoner whose sentence qualified for conditional release under the Board’s decisions has been released. No positive “good conduct” assessments have been issued, and conditional release rights have not been applied.
According to a 2024 report by the Women’s Commission of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), the reasons cited for postponements included previously lifted disciplinary punishments, development scores not shared with or explained to the prisoners, claims that prisoners “maintained organizational attitudes,” and that they were “not ready to reintegrate into society.” At present, 12 women prisoners are being denied release—five of them have already served 30 years.
Another key issue in Sincan is that while evaluations are normally scheduled every three, six, or nine months, some prisoners have now been given review dates a full year later.
ÖHD lawyer Sipan Cizreli spoke to ANF about the situation in Sincan Women’s Prison.
No Conditional Release Since 2021
Cizreli explained that changes made to the Execution Law during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 created differences in the application of “good conduct” criteria: “In 2020, amendments were made to the law of execution. These changes affected how good conduct is assessed. Two articles of the law were altered, and from then on, they became the basis for the Administrative Observation Board’s decisions.
Since January 2021, no prisoner in Sincan Women’s Prison who was eligible for conditional release has actually been released. While evaluations were conducted, none concluded that prisoners showed good conduct, so release rights were denied.
We have identified 24 women whose release was due but blocked. Twelve of them were only freed after completing their entire sentences. Currently, 12 women remain imprisoned despite being eligible for conditional release, with the Board continuing to block their rights.”
Among them are five life-sentenced prisoners, including Sermin Demirdağ, who has served 34 years.
Copy-paste decisions
Cizreli noted that most Board decisions consist of repeated, formulaic language, without individualized assessments: “There are no specific comparisons or evaluations. The same phrases are reused, leading to repeated rulings that good conduct does not exist. Expressions such as ‘showed no remorse,’ ‘not rehabilitated,’ ‘cannot adapt to society’ are subjective, ideological, and political.
Beyond the Board, appeals are taken to execution judges and then to heavy penal courts, but in Ankara, neither has issued a positive ruling.”
Arbitrary practice in Sincan
Cizreli added that while some prisons (such as Bolu) have granted conditional releases, Sincan has not moved at all: “We know of 1–2 prisons where releases occurred, but in Sincan, no progress has been made. It is absolutely arbitrary. The Board meets, makes subjective assessments, and issues identical rulings repeatedly.
Ultimately, the release of 12 women has been blocked. Five of them have been in prison for over 30 years, with some facing serious health problems due to their long incarceration.”
Some cases
Sermin Demirdağ (life sentence, 34th year): Release blocked 6 times, with postponements of 3, 6, and 9 months.
Nedime Yaklav (life sentence, 30 years): Release blocked 6 times; latest review delayed by 1 year.
Nuriye Adet (life sentence, 30 years): Release blocked 5 times; latest review delayed by 1 year.
Gülşan Adet (life sentence, 30 years): Release blocked 5 times.
Hicran Binici (life sentence, 30 years): Release blocked 4 times.
Other prisoners (Zeliha Ustabaşı, Elif Çetinbaş, Melike Göksu, Esra Soyaktaş, Fatma Aslan, Süheyla Taş, Emine Abiş): Releases blocked between 1 and 3 times each.