MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed – While hunger strikes started in many Turkey’s prisons against rights violations continues, the Ministry of Justice remains silent about rights violations in prisons. The relatives of prisoners call for an end to the isolation imposed on prisoners and the Kurdish people to raise their voices for prisoners. Emine Al is one of these relatives of prisoners. Speaking about the conditions of her daughter Gülistan Al, who has been kept in the Kayseri Women’s Closed Prison for six years, and other prisoners, Emine Al told us that her daughter, who was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, has been subjected to many rights violations in the prison.

They find tooth in their meals

Mentioning that women prisoners in the Kayseri Women’s Closed Prison find tooth or other objects in their meals, Emine Al said that the prisoners receive only a loaf of bread per day. “The prisoners also face other problems,” she said.

Broken electronic devices are not repaired

“Their broken electronic devices such as kettles, radios and televisions, are not repaired when they are broken. Even though these electronic devices have warranties when they break down, the prisoners are told, ‘If you pay, we will have it repaired’. Women being kept in the Kayseri Women’s Closed Prison have faced many problems.”

They are given not more than two outfits

Calling for an end to the isolation being imposed on the prisoners, Emine Al said, “The isolation imposed on my daughter and other prisoners must end. They are given not more than two outfits. In addition, they face searches three times every day; they are subjected to searches from their shoes to heads.”

Relatives of prisoners cannot go to prisons

Pointing out that families cannot go to prisons to see their relatives for years because prisoners are kept in prisons far away from their families, Emine Al said, “Some prisoners have not been able to see their families for six years. Their families cannot visit them due to distance and their economic condition. During the restrictions for the Covid-19 pandemic, I could not see my daughter for two years. I saw her for a half hour last September after two years.”

“They should raise their voices for prisoners”

Calling on the relatives of prisoners and human rights defenders, Emine Al said, “They should raise their voices against the rights violations faced by prisoners. Sick prisoners must be released immediately. Every day, people die in prison. Everyone should raise their voices for prisoners. We want peace not war.”