Fifty prisoners have been transferred by plane from Mardin Closed Prison to Tekirdağ F Type Closed Prison. The reason given for this transfer was that Mardin jail had no place to host the 50 prisoners. In reality authorities are using the transfers as a new tool of repression and violation of prisoners' rights. Indeed the numbers speak for themselves: in the past two days some 138 political prisoners have been transferred.

Dispersion is not new as a tool of repression both of prisoners and their families. Because clearly for a prisoner to be transferred thousands of Km from his/her home town means further burden and problems for his/her family. Long journeys are often not affordable for the families, both economically and in terms of transport.

The latest transfer was early this morning from Mardin to Tekirdağ, some 1625 Km away. It was done by plane and under heavy security measures. According to information received in the last few months a total of 395 political prisoners have been transferred from Amed prison (275), Muş (70) and from Mardin today's 50 prisoners.

In the past two months 49 political prisoners have been transferred from Van jail. A total of 61 in the last eleven months.

Ten women prisoners have been transferred from Muş women prison to Ankara and Erzurum jails, while61 PKK prisoners were transferred to Tekirdağ F Type Prison No. 1.