Members of the IHD Istanbul Branch Prison Commission highlighted the situation of DIHA journalist Ziya Ataman, who is seriously ill in prison.

Ataman's situation was exposed during the 386th “F Sit-in". The journalist suffered the collapse of his kidneys and his health conditions are at a very serious stage. 

Members of the Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) Prison Commission wanted to carry out there sit-in in Galatasaray Square, demanding the release of sick prisoners but were prevented from doing so by the police.

The statement was made in front of the IHD building in Taksim. The banner “Right to Treatment cannot be prevented" was opened during the action, while activists carried photographs of sick prisoners and demanded their release.

Background

Ziya Ataman, a reporter for Dicle News Agency (DİHA), was arrested on 11 April 2016, accused of “participating in an operation of a terrorist organization”. Police detained Ataman after he participated in a protest in the city of Van, in eastern Turkey.

Ataman, who had worked as distributor for the closed Özgür Gündem newspaper, started working as an intern reporter at the now-closed DİHA where he worked for only 7 months.

Ataman appeared in court for the first time on 2 March 2018, marking almost two years in pretrial detention.