According to figures for the month of November released by the Association of Human Rights Association (IHD ), there are 544 sick prisoners requiring intensive care. Of these 162 are in very serious conditions.

The report has been recently published by the Association of Human Rights Association (IHD ) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). It underlines how prisoners have virtually no access to a basic right, the right to health and being treated.
In January 2013 there were laws to overcome the problem that prevents the release of sick prisoners, both in custody or on remand. According to the new Law 6411 in January 2013, the condition that allows the release of sick prisoners has been changed as follows: "The prisoner patient who is unable to provide for his/her care can be released." On the other hand, prosecutors are allowed wide discretion in Turkey, and this meant they do not allow the release of prisoners even though they are in critical condition, on the pretext that sick prisoners may endanger the safety of the community if released.

The same discretion has prevented the release of Ramazan Ozalp, a sick prisoner in the prison of Mardin. The Forensic Institute supports the release of Ozalp from prison because of his critical condition, but the prosecutor keeps denying Ozalp freedom.
101 prisoners have currently applied to the Ministry of Justice of Turkey, asking to be released because of health problems and illnesses.

The issue of sick prisoners has an important place in the current peace talks which involve the BDP, Kurdish Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the Turkish government.
BDP co-chairman, Selahattin Demirtas, said that despite the many contacts with the Minister of Justice of Turkey, Sadullah Ergin, no steps on the release of sick prisoners have been taken.

Selahattin Demirtas added: "One of the most delicate point in the solution process are indeed prison conditions. There are 162 sick prisoners whose health is rapidly deteriorating."
Stressing that indeed the current legal situation facilitates the release of sick prisoners, the BDP co-chair said: "If the Prime Minister or the Minister of Justice gave a message with respect to the release of sick prisoners, prosecutors would do something. Informal observations are not the way to solve the problem."
Addressing the authorities and the government he added that a sign of good will in addressing the issue of sick prisoners would also give a boost to the peace process.