Önder Poyraz was detained after being injured during the curfew declared on 14 December 2015 in the Cizre (Cizîr) district of Şırnak (Şirnex). He was arrested on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “disrupting the unity and integrity of the state.” Despite being sentenced to two aggravated life terms and suffering from serious health issues, Poyraz continues to be held in prison and is being denied release.

Poyraz, who is currently imprisoned in Erzurum Dumlu Type 2 Closed Prison, has a platinum implant in his back due to a bullet wound. He has only one kidney, and because he has been denied proper medical treatment, his right arm has become paralyzed and his fingers have curled. It has also been confirmed that his right leg is now paralyzed.

Firdevs Poyraz, the wife of Önder Poyraz, spoke to our agency about the medical neglect and rights violations her husband has endured. She issued an urgent appeal to the authorities, saying, “His treatment must continue at home. He can now only live in a wheelchair.” She stressed that her husband’s condition is worsening with each passing day.

Firdevs Poyraz said that the prison administration had failed to provide her husband with an orthopedic bed despite his critical condition. She explained, “His condition is getting worse. He needs an orthopedic bed, but they are not giving him one. Since he cannot lie down, he is forced to spend his time sitting in a chair.” She also stated that the family tried to send a suitable bed themselves, but the authorities did not allow it.

Paralysis has spread to his right leg

Firdevs Poyraz explained that her husband’s untreated arm paralysis has now spread to his right leg. She said: “Because of the lack of a proper bed, the paralysis in his arm has now affected his leg.”

She noted that although a hospital in Erzurum issued a report stating he was not eligible for release, it also recommended that he be treated in an R-Type Prison. Despite this recommendation, she said, the treatment process has been obstructed. “He is supposed to be taken to the hospital again soon for a new report. But even that requires multiple petitions. He now lives entirely in a chair. He cannot take care of himself or do anything on his own.”

Firdevs Poyraz added that her husband can only meet his basic needs with the assistance of prison guards and emphasized that prison conditions are entirely inadequate for medical treatment.

We were not allowed in together because we spoke Kurdish

Firdevs Poyraz described the severe difficulties they face just to attend prison visits: “It takes us two full days on the road to reach the prison. We are constantly at risk of accidents. During our last visit on the ninth of the month, we experienced great hardship. They conducted strip searches on us. They do this to all the families of prisoners.”

She continued: “Normally, we were always allowed to enter the visitation room together. But this time, when I went with my son and my mother-in-law, the guards said, ‘You’re speaking differently, we can’t understand you,’ and sent my mother-in-law out. They did this because we were speaking Kurdish.”

She said that the discrimination they faced also affected the time allowed for visitation. “After they sent my mother-in-law out, we stayed in the visitation room for just ten minutes. Then we came out, and she went in. She was also only allowed ten minutes. We traveled for two days, but we were not even given twenty minutes with him.”

She also mentioned that the items they ordered from the prison canteen during the visit were not delivered to them.

His condition would not have worsened this much if treated earlier

Firdevs Poyraz emphasized that her husband’s treatment had been neglected for years. “If he had been treated earlier, perhaps today he could still use his right hand. Despite numerous applications and petitions, he was not given proper medical care. They only took him to the infirmary and gave him painkillers.”

She added that her husband is now suffering from kidney issues, back pain, and severe problems with his hand. She stressed that he must be released without further delay.