Meral Halat, Co-Spokesperson of the Prison Commission of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Urfa (Riha) Branch, said serious violations had been identified in prisons, particularly regarding the right to health, during a meeting held at the Association for Solidarity with Families of Prisoners and Convicts (TUHAY-DER).
Halat stated that some prisoners suffering from chronic and severe illnesses were unable to access the necessary medical treatment.
The report also noted that the sentences of some prisoners had been extended on disciplinary grounds, while others had been held in single-person cells for long periods and were not allowed to participate in social activities.
It further stated that sports and cultural activities in prisons were limited, that ward searches were conducted frequently, and that personal belongings were often damaged during these searches.
Halat said similar practices in prisons in Osmaniye, Tokat, Urfa and Siverek (Sêwereg) point to structural rights violations within the sentence execution system, and added: “This reveals that there are structural problems in the execution system. These problems stem from the application of exceptional legal practices against political prisoners and show that they are subjected to discrimination. These exceptional legal practices must be abandoned immediately. Prisons are institutions where the rule of law is tested most visibly. Ensuring that prisoners live under conditions consistent with human dignity is not only a legal obligation but also a social and moral responsibility.”
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