The Prisoners' Voice Platform (TSP) said that 17,600 prisoners and approximately 70,000 relatives were affected by the earthquake in the prisons in the affected area and emphasized that the Turkish state should quickly answer relatives of the prisoners and give them information about their condition. The TSP said that they have been working since the earthquake to meet the urgent needs of the people, the prisoners and their relatives.

The platform said in its written statement: “The Maraş-centered earthquake caused tens of thousands of people to die and hundreds of thousands to be injured in Kurdistan, Turkey, Rojava and Syria. Millions of people were left homeless on those cold winter days. The loss of life increased because the state did not start the search and rescue operation on time. The efforts of the volunteers who rush to the aid of the people continue to encounter the obstacles of the state.

According to the statement of the Civil Society Association on the Penal Execution System (CISST), 17,600 prisoners in jails located in the earthquake region were affected. It is estimated that approximately 70,000 prisoners' relatives were also affected by the earthquake.”

The statement added: “The Turkish state initially claimed that the prisons were not affected by the earthquake. The state had to admit that the prisons were also affected after the news and images were published on social media. However, the state left the prisoners to die for days. Due to the continuous aftershocks, the law enforcement officers who opened fire on the prisoners who wanted to go out in the open areas in the prisons killed three prisoners and injured 12 others. Later, it was announced that some prisons had been evacuated and the prisoners were transferred to other prisons. Many relatives said that they have not heard from their relatives in two weeks and that they cannot find out where they have been transferred. This situation exacerbates the suffering of the prisoners and their relatives.”

The statement continued: “It is a humanitarian demand that the relatives of the detainees in the earthquake zone receive information about them. The Turkish state should quickly meet this demand.

We have been working since the first day to meet the urgent needs of the people, the prisoners and their relatives who have suffered great destruction as well as the abandonment of the state.

We expect every sensitive person to show their solidarity and help the work we carry out to contribute to the survival of the prisoners and their relatives. Solidarity makes you live!”