Another political prisoner has died in custody in Turkey. Seriously ill political prisoner Bazo Yılmaz died due to a lack of health care and the prison conditions in Urfa no. 2 T-type prison. His family was informed of the death of the 67-year-old by telephone from the prison administration on Thursday. His body is currently in the mortuary of the Urfa coroner's office.

Yılmaz had already been taken to the coroner's office on 8 February 2021 due to his health problems. Despite severe COPD and the need for constant artificial oxygen supply, the doctor examining him, found him fit to stay in prison. A complaint before the Constitutional Court against the decision was also dismissed. Yılmaz was permanently hooked up to an oxygen machine and was practically unable to look after himself alone.

Who was Bazo Yılmaz?

Bazo Yılmaz was the former mayor of Yukarı Göklü (Gogan) in Urfa Province and a member of the Halfeti City Council. He was arrested and imprisoned on 11 December 2016 for membership of the grassroots Democratic Society Congress (DTK). In 2018, he was sentenced to nine years in prison for “membership of a terrorist organization”, and “propaganda for a terrorist organization”.