Protests for ill prisoners continued in Ankara and Istanbul. This week, activists underlined the serious condition in which is prisoner Mehmet Salih Filiz.

Ankara

Members of the Freedom for Ill Prisoners Initiative in Ankara came together in front of the Human Rights Association (IHD) Ankara Branch building in the 484th week of their action.

The statement was made by IHD Central Executive Board (MYK) member Nuray Çevirmen, who said that, as far as IHD has determined, there are 1,517 ill prisoners, at least 651 of whom are seriously ill. She added that at least 41 prisoners have lost their lives in prisons since the beginning of 2023.

This week, Nuray Çevirmen reported the situation of seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Salih Filiz in Bodrum S Type Closed Prison. She said that Filiz could not consume most meals due to his illness and had to be fed with liquid food. "He should be released immediately."

Istanbul

The Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Commission held its 612th weekly "F sit-in". In the action, held in front of the IHD Branch, attention was drawn to the rights violations in prison and the situation of ill prisoners on the occasion of the Human Rights Week 2023.

The statement was read by IHD member Taylan Bekin, who said: "Tthe problems experienced in accessing health and treatment pose a serious threat to the prisoners' right to life, and even treatable diseases can end in the death of prisoners."

Bekin added: "The state should act in accordance with its responsibilities and end the violations of rights in prisons. The obstacles to access to treatment and health for all ill prisoners, should be removed, without discrimination among prisoners.”