Lawyers Yusuf Jacksaz: Democracy cannot be built in isolation

The Turkish authorities are tightening the isolation of prisoners in Turkish prisons. In conjunction with the spread of the Corona pandemic, detainees are subjected to various inhuman practices, ill-treatment and denial of rights and health services.

Human Rights said that during 2020 they had received only 182 complaints from prisoners regarding torture, ill-treatment, poor health conditions and denial of access to information and news.

Member of the administrative body for stopping human rights in Turkey, Professor Omid Bejar, and member of the Committee of Detainees of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom, lawyer Yusuf Jacksaz, spoke to Hawar news agency ANHA about the human rights violations occurring in Turkish prisons and the isolation imposed on Imrali prison. They confirmed the escalation of violations and isolation policies in prisons.

Professor Omid Bejar noted that the Turkish authorities are seeking to bring society under their control through arguments and justification regarding security and terrorism. In that connection, he said: "Whatever happens in detention, but in any case there is a break in news between the inside and the outside due to the lack of transparency disclosure of information from inside the prison."

"Increased rights violations"
Bejar noted that the number of prisoners has increased significantly since 2019, and said in this regard: "At this stage there has been an escalation of human rights and legal violations in detention. We knew that they were deprived of infrastructure facilities, that they were being punished, and that prison sentences and isolation had increased. In conjunction with the pandemic conditions, prison conditions have worsened dramatically. Previously, prisoners were somewhat contacted by their parents or lawyers, but with the conditions of the pandemic, the situation worsened dramatically, as the isolation imposed on prisoners continued. "

He also added: "During this period, mothers entered the prison suffering from chronic diseases and needing surgery. In this period there is a shortage and decline of preventive health measures. Unfortunately, the Directorate-General of Detention of the Ministry of Justice does not share any information on the conditions of detention. "

"The Government does not disclose transparent information to public opinion"

Bejar noted that the Government had long failed to provide any transparent and clear information to public opinion on the situation of women detainees, and in that regard: "According to information provided by the Directorate-General of Detention, we have only been informed since the beginning of 2021 of the number of women in prison, but so far we do not have records and information on chronically ill prisoners registered with the Directorate of Justice. We don't know if those got the meeting or not, and there's no information about it. We don't know if anyone over the age of 60 got the vaccine or not. So far we haven't obtained this information transparently from the Department of Justice. From the outset, therefore, the Ministry of Justice has not been transparent with public opinion regarding the Corona pandemic."

Professor Omid Bejar said that the isolation imposed on prisons in Turkey was a humanitarian crime. "They therefore impose isolation, whether in Imarli or other Turkish prisons, contrary to United Nations resolutions and those of the European Court of Human Rights, which is unacceptable."

"The Administration prohibits detainees from having access to news and information."

Omid Bejar noted the escalation and intensification of human rights violations in Turkish prisons and said on the subject: "It must be taken against and against policies of repression, torture and inhuman ill-treatment. Preventing prisoners from learning about their parents' news and conditions and receiving information about their situation, and preventing prisoners from speaking to their relatives or from having access to news are inhumane practices. "
Omid Bejar said that the activity of the hunger strike in Turkish prisons posed a high risk, adding, "The authorities' insistence on continuing to impose isolation on Imarli Prison has given rise to dismissive reactions by prisoners against such isolation and violations."

"The isolation imposed on Imarli stretched to all places of detention."
Member of the Board of Detainees of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom, lawyer Yusuf Jacksaz, noted that the severe isolation imposed on Imarli prison extended to many other Turkish detainees, and said in this regard: "In fact, the isolation imposed on Mr. Abdallah Ocalan in Imralı, in particular, extended to all Turkish prisons. Mr. Ocalan's last phone call was very important to us. There was a general trend regarding isolation, which was that; There is no isolation, and Mr. Abdullah Ocalan does not want to talk to his lawyer. But during the telephone call we saw how Mr. Abdullah Ocalan asked to meet with his parents and his lawyer. "

On how the prison administration handles detainees, lawyer Yusuf Jacksaz said: "The Department wishes it to identify the newspapers and television channels to be followed by prison detainees. In many of our meetings in prisons, the guards say they were ordered to sit near us. They're trying to listen to our conversations with prisoners, wanting to know what we're going to talk about, and they're trying to get inside with us. In some examples, there were attempts to read the notes that we wrote. They say these are the orders and decisions of the General Prosecutor, and directed by the minister, that's what needs to be discussed and stopped, a very simple reason can lead to disciplinary sanctions for prisoners. "

Lawyer Yusuf Jacksaz noted that the demands of prisoners on hunger strike are very clear and specific: "Those who have declared a hunger strike against severe isolation have been forced into further isolation. The only way to limit these practices and procedures is to abide by and apply laws and rights. There's no need to look far away, there's no need to create new things. There's a convict asking to meet with his lawyer. Mr. Abdullah Ocalan said in his last phone call that I was asking to speak to my lawyer. That's essential. It's not debatable. The convict can't use the phone, he can't talk to his father and his mother, the lawyer can't explain it, it's basic demands. As we can see, hunger strikers are determined to continue their activity and claim their rights."

Jacksaz also noted that society must be careful and vigilant about news and information from prisons, and said on the subject: "Today's conservatives are accused of terrorism, and they are put in prison. Today people are arrested from the mosques. No one knows who's being arrested or where they're being taken. Everyone is willing to go to jail by surprise. Therefore, detention is a special palce, and we must maintain a special attitude to prison conditions. One must look at the subject from the perspective of international law and rights. Society must discuss and raise the subject of human rights.

When there was contact with Mr. Abdullah Ocalan, a positive and beautiful atmosphere prevailed in this country. We shouldn't forget that. Indeed, democracy cannot be built in isolation. We believe that the way to achieve democracy is through honorable peace. These rights violations must end, and the penalties of sick prisoners must be terminated as soon as possible. "

T/S

ANHA

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