In a press conference in parliament on Friday, DEM Party MP Mehmet Zeki İrmez criticized the systematic extension of prison sentences for political prisoners by so-called administrative and observation boards as arbitrary and unlawful. He said the decisions were politically motivated and violated fundamental human rights.
“Even a minister can’t change that”
İrmez spoke of cases in which prisoners have been in custody for over 30 years, even though there are no legal obstacles to their release. He cited the case of Tamer Tanrıkulu, who has been denied release five times despite having served his sentence. In conversations, prisoners reported that a prison prosecutor had told them: “Even if a minister calls, nothing will change. I will not release you.”
Seriously ill prisoners without access to medical care
The extension of prison terms also affects seriously ill prisoners. Hasip Avşar, who has been imprisoned for 31 years, suffers from severe chronic illnesses such as heart problems and herniated discs. Nevertheless, his release has been postponed three times. Metin Genli, 61 years old and suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), has also been waiting for his release for more than 31 years. İrmez remarked that access to medical care is inadequate in many cases.
Unlawful justifications and isolation as punishment
According to İrmez, the commissions resort to unfounded and incomprehensible means to block the release of political prisoners. Even refusing to stand during controversial military roll calls can be used as grounds for extending detention. “This practice is incompatible with any international standard,” said the MP.
In Aksaray, prisoners sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment are transferred to solitary confinement and held in complete isolation. Prisoners Sami Borak and İhsan Taşdelen, for example, have been held in complete isolation for a year and a half—without any contact with other prisoners.
Numerous cases of rights violations in Konya as well
İrmez also documented numerous cases in the high-security prison in the Ereğli district of Konya, in which political prisoners were denied release despite having served their sentences. In some cases, prison terms were extended by several years. Particularly serious is the case of Mehmet Emin Gurban, who has been in prison for 30 years, survived two heart attacks, and is now being held in solitary confinement.
“Political prisoners are treated as hostages”
İrmez spoke of a deeply rooted practice in the Turkish judicial system that specifically targets political prisoners. “These boards have become tools of repression. It is no longer about legal review, but about exercising political power,” he said. He pointed out that Turkey’s current practices had strayed far from the rule of law. The MP called for immediate legal reform, saying: “A clear legal basis is needed to prevent arbitrary decisions and to respect human dignity. Political persecution must not be allowed to continue through administrative tricks.”
Remembering Taybet Inan
The press conference took place on the anniversary of Taybet İnan’s death. The 57-year-old woman, who was known as “Mother Taybet” during her lifetime, was shot dead in the street by the Turkish military during the curfew imposed in Silopi district of Şırnak on December 14, 2015. Inan’s death was particularly dramatic because the body of the mother of eleven could not be recovered for seven days as Turkish security forces shot at anything that moved. Her brother-in-law, Yusuf Inan, was also shot dead while attempting to evacuate Taybet Inan’s dead body.
İrmez recalled the events as “a deep wound in the collective memory of the Kurdish people.” “Remembering Mother Taybet and all victims of repression is our moral obligation. Our commemoration is part of the struggle for truth, justice, and peace,” he said. Only through reappraisal and recognition can a democratic new beginning succeed, he added.