The Bar Association of Ankara has held a press conference in front of Sincan prison in Ankara on Wednesday. The lawyers were asking for the immediate release of the children who suffered sexual abuse in Pozantý prison and have now been transferred to Ankara.

“Sincan prison - said the Bar Association of Ankara Centre of Children’s Rights President lawyer Þahin Antakyalýoðlu - is almost to its full capacity. Overcrowding and the general prison conditions will not help these children who have suffered a major trauma".

Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin thought appropriate to transfer the children to Ankara, hundreds of chilometers away from their families.

A total of 199 minors are to be transferred making it almost impossible for families to go and visit their kids. The transfer move has been criticized by families as well as by rights associations, lawyers and psychologists. Indeed after suffering such abuses the kids should be guaranteed the best environment although clearly they remain behind bars which makes it impossible to speak of 'suitable' environment. Nevertheless kids should at least been granted visits with their relatives in order to cope with the trauma. To move them hundreds of chilometers away from their families only add to their sufference.