At protests in Istanbul and Ankara yesterday for sick prisoners, the government's attitude to sick inmates was condemned.

Members of the Human Rights Association's (IHD) Istanbul branch Prison Commission held its 130th weekly protest in front of the Galatasaray High School demanding the closure of F-Type prisons.

At the protest people carried banners reading "Solitary confinement kill, F Type prisons must be closed" and "We don't want deaths in prison, sick prisoners must be released", and slogans such as "End solitary, halt the deaths" and "Anti-Terror Law leave the prisoners alone".

Human rights activist Mukaddes Şamiloğlu made a statement, drawing attention to the condition of İhsan Dönmez, who has lung cancer.

Şamiloğlu said that while Dönmez was in Sivas Closed Prison Sivas he had been taken to the state hospital in the city and given a diagnosis of lung cancer, but told he would have to be taken elsewhere for what was a difficult operation. Şamiloğlu said that as Dönmez's family lived in Amed he asked to be transferred there for treatment. Şamiloğlu added that while doctors approved the transfer the Justice Ministry opposed it, and although Dönmez was told he was being transferred to Amed, he was instead sent to the Rize L Type Clos Prison.

Şamiloğlu added that in the 2 months Dönmez was in Rize he was not taken to hospital on account of the hospital being far away, and arbitrary security reasons. Şamiloğlu said she was making an official complaint regarding the officials who had transferred Dönmez to Rize instead of Amed. After the statement was read out, the protest ended.

ANKARA

A protest was organised in Ankara by the Freedom for Sick Prisoners Platform. The protesters marched to Güven Park, shouting slogans such as "End Solitary", "Freedom for the prisoners" and "Long live the  prison resistance", and some protesters wore shrouds. On reaching Güven Park the members of the platform held a sit-down protest. Following the sit-down, Deniz Kesmez, from the Ankara branch of the IHD, said they had held a protest every Saturday for 4 months, wearing shrouds to prevent sick prisoners leaving prison in coffins. Kesmez added that on 27 June they had met officials from the government, who had told them they were involved in efforts for the prisoners. Kesmez emphasised that no steps had been taken since then, adding: "We call once again on the government. Stop using human life as a subject of political bargaining."