This week, HDP MPs Züleyha Gülüm and Musa Piroğlu made a statement at the prisoners' mothers vigil held every Friday at Çağlayan Courthouse to expose the violation of rights in prisons and the release of ill prisoners. HDP deputy Züleyha Gülüm underlined that they were in front of Çağlayan Courthouse once again so that prisons do not turn into death houses, and added: "Mothers began to experience health problems as a result of their violent detention every week. That's why they are not here today, but what they told us is that they will continue this vigil every week."

'Özkan’s situation is critical'

Drawing attention to the situation of seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Özkan, Gülüm underlined that Özkan has been in prison for a very long time and has reached a critical stage in terms of health. Noting that he does not even remember where he is at this point, Gülüm noted: “Mehmet Emin Özkan's health condition is not suitable for staying in prison. He's almost close to death. But he is still in prison. The family was trying to make their voice heard on this issue. We have already lost many people in prison, we do not want to lose Mehmet Emin Özkan. We demand his immediate release. After the last visit, the family said that he can die any moment. But despite this, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the General Directorate of Prisons has heard a voice or an answer.”

Gülüm emphasized that the fact that recent deaths show that prisons have turned into death houses. Pointing out that not only seriously ill prisoners but prisoners in general are ill are not treated in jail, Gülüm stated that those who want to go to the infirmary are not taken to it, neither are they referred to the hospital, and when they are, they are exposed to the imposition of a handcuffed examination. As if all this was not enough, Gülüm stated that now the imposition of oral search has begun, and said that when the ill prisoners objected to this practice, which is against human dignity, they were not taken to the hospital. In addition to this, Gülüm pointed out that the hygiene conditions are not provided in the prisons and that cleaning materials are not provided. Punishment after punishment is applied to keep prisoners in jail even after they have served their sentence.

Noting that the Ministry of Justice, General Directorate of Prisons and Prison Directorates are responsible for violations of rights, torture and deaths in prisons, Gülüm said: “Let them not think that they will not be prosecuted. Of course, these days will pass and they will have to respond before the judiciary."