The Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Commission drew attention to the condition of ill prisoners, and in particular to the situation of 80-year-old Makbule and Hadi Özer, who are in Van T Type Closed Prison.

Meral Nergis Şahin, member of the IHD Istanbul Branch Prison Commission, said that the "exceptional practice of detention" rule in criminal law was disregarded. Stating that people are sent to prison even when there are no legal grounds for detention, she said that this situation creates a basis for life-threatening situations, especially for the elderly, sick and child prisoners.

Many prisoners, she said, “are condemned to a life close to death due to severe problems in accessing the right to health and treatment, ill-treatment and discriminatory execution practices.”

Şahin said that at least 35 detainees lost their lives in the last six months and added that most of these deaths were suspicious. The state, she said, “is responsible for protecting the right to life, but no immediate action has been taken, for example, in the case of the Özer couple. The Özer couple were living with the help of their children. However, they were sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, and sent to jail. The lawyers' requests for house arrest were rejected. 80-year-old Makbule Özer suffers from diabetes, shortness of breath and blood pressure, and has a 52 percent disability report due to walking disability and diseases. Being able to move in a wheelchair, Özer cannot meet her personal needs on her own. After her arrest, she had serious sleep problems and started to complain of constant leg pain.”

Call to release the old couple

Şahin said that Hadi Özer had permanent problems due to a traffic accident he had in the past, and that he had constant eye pain and had difficulty holding things up due to numbness in his right hand.

Şahin said that the Özer couple must be released immediately.