With the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, violations in prisons in Turkey and North Kurdistan increased significantly.

Political prisoner Emine Abiş is in jail for the resistance in defense of the democratic autonomy in Amed-Sûr in 2015/2016. Her daughter Berivan spoke about the phone conversation she had with her mother who reported on the situation in the women's prison in Diyarbakır (Amed).

“My mother is on trial in the Sûr case and is currently in Diyarbakir prison,” said Berivan Abiş. “My mother was released in 2017, but she was arrested again two months ago. After her arrest, she was taken to Edirne Prison (in the West of Turkey), where she was locked up with Gülenists [followers of Fetullah Gülen]. After a long legal battle, they transferred her to Diyarbakır Prison. Although my mother is not in a well condition, she wasn't even taken to a doctor. One day, when her condition deteriorated badly, they told her that they could not take her to the hospital and that the infirmary was closed. They call an ambulance to the prison, give her an injection and bring her back to the cell.

‘I'm worried for my mother's health’

Abiş continued: “The rate of those positive for corona is twice as high in prisons. When I spoke to my mother, she said, 'They come to search my cell every day, but they only wear gloves. They throw everything upside down. There are no family visits, so if someone is infected with corona, it because of the guards. The number of people infected with corona is increasing, but they are not making tests. ‘My mother is in a bad shape. I'm scared about the pandemic.”

Abiş added: “My mother told me that two prisoners are in a very bad shape, but they are still not being treated. The only thing you can do during the pandemic is to read. But the number of books is limited to ten in two months. Newspapers, magazines and books that do not represent the line of the state are banned."

Alone with five little siblings

After her mother's arrest, Berivan Abiş lives alone with her five siblings. She said: “I am the oldest in the house. I have to take care of the household. My brothers and my little sister stay home alone. I want my mother to be released immediately."