Actions for sick prisoners in Ankara and Istanbul
Two actions were organized in Ankara and Istanbul to draw attention to the condition of ill prisoners. It was emphasized that the state are leaving the prisoners to die.
Two actions were organised to highlight the plight of ill prisoners in Ankara and Istanbul.
ANKARA
The Sick Prisoners Initiative met in Ankara for the 275th week. Speaking in front of the Human Rights Association (IHD) Ankara Branch, IHD member Sevil Turgut drew attention to the situation of Seyfettin Bahar, a sick prisoner held in Bolu F Type Closed Prison.
Turgut emphasized that Bahar suffered from different illnesses during his stay in prison and added that he also suffered from chronic hepatitis-B and should use medicine for life.
Turgut said Bahar should undergo medical treatment as soon as possible.
ISTANBUL
The Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Commission demanded the release of sick prisoners on week 403 of their F sit-in.
The statement was supposed to be made in Galatasaray square, but police prevented activists from reading it there so it was read in front of the IHD Istanbul Branch.
IHD Prison Commissioner Mehmet Acettin drew attention to the situation of Cihat Özdemir, a sick prisoner who has been in prison since 2001.
Acettin, said: "Cihat Özdemir, born in 1969 in Çorum, has been imprisoned since 2001. Cihat Özdemir, who was held in Kırıkkale F-Type Closed Prison, has been treated twice between 15th of July 2018 and 21 August 2019, although a nodule was detected in the thyroid gland.
A biopsy was finally performed on 23 September 2019 and a diagnosis of thyroid cancer was made according to the pathology report on 1 October 2019. Urgent surgery was recommended and on 17 November 2019, and Özdemir was taken to the Dışkapı Training and Research Hospital, since pre-operative examinations required a new biopsy because of the presence of lesions in the brain and salivary gland, and he was taken to the Sincan No. 1 Closed Type Prison until the end of the examinations.
Due to the lack of examinations in Kırıkkale High Specialized Hospital, the diagnosis and treatment was delayed and the cancer entered a high risk stage. Although the surgery took place in the past week, there is a danger of the cancer spreading due to a two-year disruption process and Cihat Özdemir's condition remains critical."
