News Center- 76-year-old Hanife Arslan has been held in Van T-type Prison although she suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and diabetes. Through her lawyer, she applied to the court for the suspension of her prison sentence; however, the Van 4th High Criminal Court has rejected her request.

Hanife Arslan was first arrested in 2017. She was released after nine months. A Turkish court sentenced her to six years and three months in prison on charges of “membership in an illegal organization”. She was arrested again in 2022 after her prison sentence was upheld.

Due to her health problems, she has been transferred to hospital twice since the beginning of 2024. A social media campaign demanding her release was launched. On December 18, 2023, People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Meral Danış Beştaş applied to the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission for the release of Hanife Arslan and other sick prisoners.