83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Özkan remains in jail
83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan was not released. The new hearing was held on Thursday. Özkan has been in prison for 25 years.
83-year-old seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan attended the hearing at Adana 7th Heavy Penal Court via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Özkan could not make his defense at the hearing because of his health problems.
Adana 7th Heavy Penal Court has rejected the request for Özkan's release once again on the grounds that the Lice case heard by the İzmir 1st Heavy Penal Court has not yet been finalized.
The next hearing of the case will be held on 21 December 2021.
83-year-old Mehmet Emin Özkan suffered five heart attacks during his 25 years in prison. The old man is now held in Diyarbakır Type D Closed Prison and is suffering from Alzheimer, aneurysm, blood pressure problems, as well as kidney and intestinal disorders. He cannot meet his personal needs on his own.
Recently, the Forensic Medicine Institution unanimously concluded that the 83-year-old should stay in prison. In a video recorded when he was taken to the hospital, Özkan is clearly having difficulty walking. Yet he was handcuffed.
