In his presentation on 28 November at the Planning and Budget Commission, where the 2025 budget negotiations are ongoing, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç stated that there are 406 prisons in Turkey. Tunç said that 11 prisons are under contruction and 21 prison projects are being studied for 20225. Tunç also described the prisons as "structures sutiable for the modern execution regime". The prisons praised by Tunç are among the places where the most violations of rights take place. 

 

‘DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, IT DEEPENS IT’

 

Ferat Köçeroğlu, member of the Prison Commission of the Amed (Diyarbakır) Branch of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), evaluated the prisons, where many violations are experienced and the number of prisons is increasing every year. Köçeroğlu stated that the maximum capacity of 406 prisons in Turkey is 299 thousand people, but as of December 2024, there are more than 350 thousand convicts and detainees. "In such a situation, the Minister of Justice expresses an opinion on the opening of new prisons as a solution. However, neither insistence on the practice of punishment nor new prisons will contribute to the solution of the existing problems. On the contrary, it will deepen these problems even more," he said.

 

Köçeroğlu said that prisons are intended to be transformed into a ‘deterrent element of fear’ against those with different opinions and views. Pointing to the capacity of prisons and the number of prisoners, Köçeroğlu said: "This number is even higher than the average number of prisoners in all EU countries. The Minister of Justice should show the will to reduce the existing prisons instead of expressing the will to open new prisons. In advanced and modern societies, he excess of prisons is not something to be proud of, but something to complain about."

 

SITUATION IN  TYPE S AND Y PRISONS

 

Köçeroğlu said that especially Type S and Y prisons are established with the aim of eliminating overcrowded wards and poor conditions, bu the current picture is not the same as the stated purpose. Köçeroğlu pointed out that Type S and Y prisons are characterised as ‘well-type prisons’ and said that prisoners in these prisons do not see sunlight and that the prison structure severely damages human psychology. Drawing attention to the lack of social activities and various educational activities, Köçeroğlu emphasised that the existing problems cannot be alleviated with new prisons.  

 

ISOLATION IN PRISONS

 

Köçeroğlu stated that the main purpose of S, Y and High Security prisons is to keep prisoners under isolation and that prisoners suffer from various health problems due to isolation. Köçeroğlu said the following: "Prisoners suffer from seeing the sky and the sun in these prisons. They are kept in solitary cells monitored 24 hours a day by cameras. There are human rights violations due to the strict and harsh attitude of the prison administrations. The applications of both prisoners and their lawyers remain inconclusive. For this, it is an indisputable fact that the new prisons to be opened will increase the existing problems."

 

Köçeroğlu said: "The main reason why the severe isolation policies in prisons can reach our homes today is that we failed to react as we should have reacted yesterday and carried out the struggle incompletely. Only if we tackle these problems effectively and realistically today, we can save tomorrow. Otherwise, we will witness the whole country turning into a big high-security prison." 

 

MA / Rukiye Adıgüzel