Severely ill prisoner Mehmet Edip Taşar died on Tuesday in a hospital in the western Turkish metropolis of Istanbul. The 70-year-old prisoners had been held since December 2022 in the Marmara prison complex in Silivri and was most recently receiving treatment at Başakşehir District Hospital.
Taşar suffered from multiple serious illnesses, including heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure, diabetes, and prostate problems. According to human rights organizations, he was also severely limited in mobility, dependent on a wheelchair, and no longer able to manage daily life independently.
Bar Association repeatedly called for release
Most recently, at the end of February, the Human Rights Center of the Istanbul Bar Association had drawn attention to the critical condition of the Kurdish political prisoner. In a statement, it said Taşar had “difficulty breathing, could not stand up on his own,” and suffered from severe pain that became unbearable, especially at night. At the same time, significant problems in medical care were reported. There were repeated delays in hospital referrals, and even when treatment was provided, it was insufficient. His condition continued to deteriorate during his imprisonment.
Abuse during medical examinations
The Bar Association particularly criticized the treatment during medical examinations. Taşar reportedly stated that, despite his condition, he had been forced to walk during an appointment. “Although he said he could not walk, he was told: ‘You are lying, you can walk,’” the statement said. As a result, he fell and was dragged on the ground. Despite his serious health condition, multiple requests for a suspension of his sentence were rejected by Turkish authorities. The Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute, affiliated with the Ministry of Justice, repeatedly deemed Taşar fit for imprisonment. The Bar Association, however, emphasized that a suspension of his sentence was “of vital importance.”
Dropped to 40 kilograms
According to his family and lawyers, Taşar’s condition had further worsened recently. He had lost significant weight, dropping to 40 kilograms, was barely mobile, and had great difficulty speaking. The body of Mehmet Edip Taşar is expected to be transferred later today to his hometown of Batman.
Inhumane treatment of sick prisoners
Human rights organizations have for years criticized the treatment of seriously ill prisoners in Turkey. It is repeatedly emphasized that political prisoners, particularly Kurds, remain in detention despite severe illnesses. International standards, such as those of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), stipulate that detention conditions must be adapted to health conditions or that sentence suspensions should be considered. Organizations and bar associations describe a restrictive practice in recognizing unfitness for detention. Decisions by the Forensic Medicine Institute are frequently criticized in this context. In recent years, several seriously ill prisoners have died in custody or shortly after their release.