HDP Van MP, Murat Sarısaç, said that the AKP did not take any measures against the coronavirus in prisons and that it shows the punishments imposed on prisoners as "preventive measures".
The Coronavirus continues to take lives throughout the world, yet in Turkey the government has not yet taken any measures regarding the some 300 thousand prisoners in the country's jails.
Although the Turkish Ministry of Justice claims that it has taken "precautions" to safeguard prisoners, these "precautions" have been canceling lawyers and families visits.
The crisis desk in Van continues to work. HDP Van MP, Murat Sarısaç, confirmed that they are monitoring and exchanging information about the situation in the prisons and added: "Unfortunately the approach used to deal with the emergency outside is one of lack of measures and strategy. The same approach is used when it comes to prisons. There has been not a single measure taken regarding prisons. Currently, there are 300 thousand people in prisons, yet their capacity is of 225 thousand. Tests are not conducted in prisons, according to the information we receive from families, food is still delivered in prisons but gloves and masks are not used. Prisoners have no access to cleaning materials. The basic needs are not met in the canteens. According to prisoners' families, two disinfectants are given to wards in which 100 people are."
Confirming that a hostile policy is being implemented especially against political prisoners, Sarısaç said: "I spoke with the T-Type Prison director. He told me that they have taken precautions. However, still no measure package are in sight and this should be coming from the Ministry of Justice and the government. There is no single measure taken in terms of health. Instead we have news of punishments imposed on prisoners. These punishments are presented as "precaution measures". While stopping visits by lawyers and families during this emergency can be accepted as a measure to prevent the spreading of the virus, we would expect medical measures to be taken as well. In reality the best and most effective way to prevent the virus from spreading in prisons is to release prisoners. We call on the people to put pressure for this to happen."
