ANKARA, TURKEY
ÖHD (Association of Lawyers for Freedom) Ankara Branch President Şevin Kaya stated that prisoners in Turkey are in a critical situation due to the coronavirus outbreak, and that they should be released without waiting for the planned changes in the execution law.
The prisoners and convicts, whose numbers are close to 300 thousand in prisons, are at great risk due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus epidemic. Among the most risky groups in this outbreak listed the sick prisoners, the children staying in prisons with their imprisoned mothers and prisoners and convicts over the age of 60.
Şevin Kaya, President of Ankara Branch of the ÖHD pointed out the occupancy rate in prisons and stated that personal space and hygiene conditions cannot be provided. Underlining that the measures taken will not be useful, Kaya said, “The first thing to do is to eliminate the occupancy of prisons. Also, the wards need to be disinfected frequently. In order to provide a hygienic environment, necessary cleaning agents must also be given to prisoners free of charge. It is the state’s responsibility to take the necessary measures to ensure hygiene of prisoners and to prevent the spread of the virus in prisons.”
Warning that it is a critical period for sick prisoners, Kaya stated that evacuation of prisoners and postponing of their executions is vital during the current stages. Kaya called for the postponement of the execution law.
Emphasising that the evacuations of prisons is an urgent priority, Kaya stated as follows: “It is known that sick prisoners have great difficulties in their referral to hospitals even in the usual period. In this sense, the execution law should be postponed as soon as possible. And for all the prisoners to be able to reach the hospitals and health care easily, all measures should be taken in prisons and in hospitals. The State should be reminded of its responsibilities on human life. Right to live and right to reach health shall be the priority. Therefore all the prisoners shall be evacuated from the prisons based on the principle of equality. The necessary regulations on the execution law shall be made before the epidemic spreads over the prisons.”
