Istanbul Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison continues to be on the agenda with rights violations and oppression. Women prisoners in the prison informed our agency through their lawyers about the rights violations they were subjected to. Stating that the release of 7 prisoners was postponed, prisoners noted that their wards are searched at least 4 times a month.

 

Referring to the conditions in prison, the prisoners said: "Our friends are not being released. When the evacuations approach, ward searches start and something is found and disciplinary penalties are justified. Then the releases are prevented with the claim of 'not being in good behaviour'. The releases of Süreyya Bulut, Dilek Öz, Nibel Genç, Türkan Karadaşlı, Dilan Turan, Mekiye Sönük and Dilan Kutlu, who were given life sentences with us, were postponed. They are given solitary confinement and our friends are considered to be 'not in good behaviour'."

 

Stating that the disciplinary penalties given for reasons that cannot be justified are given at the highest level, the prisoners said the following: "When we want to change our wards, they show us 'independent (non-politic) wards' as an option. Our new arrivals are also forcibly kept in 'independent wards'. In addition, the practice of strip search of new arrivals continues. They make us stand during open visits.  If one of us sits down, disciplinary penalties is given immediately. They threaten us. Our books and notes are subjected to solitary confinement. In this way, release of 4 of our friends prevented.

 

REFLECTION OF IMRALI ISOLATION  

 

During the searches, the whole ward is ransacked. They distribute spoons, forks, beds and even rubbish. Military and private searches are carried out 4 times a month. They organise the regulations according to themselves. An intense isolation is applied to PKK and PJAK wards in a different way. We know that this isolation is a reflection of the isolation in İmralı. We will resist against these, we take our struggle from Leader Apo in Imrali."