Prisons are one of the areas that have been on the agenda with rights violations from past to present. Torture and ill-treatment, unhealthy living conditions, nutrition, housing, disciplinary punishments and severe isolation are just some of the violations in prisons. Many prisoners and political prisoners lost their lives during the year due to these violations.  

 

According to the data of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses of the Ministry of Justice dated December 1, 2024; there are 406 prisons in Turkey and Kurdistan, 273 of which are closed prisons. The capacity of these prisons is 299,42. 

 

“The number of penal execution institutions and detention centers should be rapidly reduced in line with reducing operating costs, quality in service and modern execution understanding,” the Directorate's data reads. However, the government's practices contradict the “target” on the directorate's website. 

 

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced in Parliament in November that 11 prisons were under construction and 21 prison projects were being studied for 2025. On the other hand, 378,657 people are currently staying in prisons with a capacity of 299,42 people. 

 

709 DEATHS IN 11 MONTHS 

 

Throughout 2024, there has been no shortage of news of deaths in prisons. Many prisoners and political prisoners, whose release was prevented due to the “can stay in prison” reports issued by the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK), lost their lives. According to the Human Rights Association (IHD), at least 50 prisoners lost their lives in the first 9 months of 2024. Most of those who lost their lives were ill prisoners. 

 

The Ministry of Justice also announced new data during the budget talks in Parliament. The Ministry of Justice announced that 709 detainees and political prisoners lost their lives in prisons in the 11 months of 2024.  

 

Abdulkadir Kuday was one of the ill prisoners left to die in prison. Kuday, who suffered from ALS and was prevented from being released despite his severe health problems, died in Metris Type R Closed Prison on October 2. 

 

Another ill prisoner, Mehmet Ali Bakış (68), had been receiving cancer treatment in Erzurum Oltu T Type Closed Prison for many years. Unable to withstand the heavy prison conditions, Varışlı was taken to Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Medicine due to internal bleeding and died on January 17.

 

Some of the people who lost their lives during the year were as follows: Recep Koçak (68), İsmet Çardak, Mutlak Tozun (52), Ergün Akdoğan (58), Ercan Çakar (39), Yıldırım Han, Mehmet Ali Yaşa, Cengiz Dal, Ümit Kayaboynu, Abdülmelik Okyay (71), İbrahim Boğurcu (32), Serhat Temizer (21), Salih Kayra, Adem Cirit (88), Mizgin Acar, Adnan Karayiğit and Cemal Altıparkmakoğlu.

 

8,521 DETAINEES PREVENTED FROM RELEASE

 

The Administrative and Prison Monitoring Boards, which came into force in 2021, delayed the release of many prisoners throughout the year. It is not known how many prisoners the boards have prevented from being released since their establishment. The Ministry of Justice released a statement on this in October. According to the ministry, the release of 8,521 people was delayed on the grounds of “lack of good behavior”. 

 

Human rights organizations and lawyers say that these committees put themselves in the place of the judiciary. The reason for this is the questions the boards ask when assessing “good behavior” and the allegations they make as justification for delaying releases. Many prisoners' releases were extended on grounds such as “overusing electricity and water”, “not appearing before the board”, “not showing remorse”, “not taking books from the library” and “beating the door”. Some prisoners were extended for 3 years, some for 6 years and some for 1 year each. 

 

The practices against prisoners were not limited to this. Dozens of prisoners (many of them 30 years old) were burned to death during the year.  

 

ILL PRISONERS

 

Ill prisoners are the most affected by the violations in prisons. The Ministry does not share any data on sick prisoners. According to the data of the Civil Society in the Penal Execution System (CISST), there are 19 people with speech and language disabilities, 42 people with visual disabilities, 28 people with hearing disabilities, 18 people with hearing and speech disabilities and 162 people with orthopaedic disabilities, i.e. 269 disabled prisoners in total.

 

According to the outdated data of the Human Rights Association (IHD), there are more than a thousand ill prisoners in prisons.

 

There are 5,520 prisoners over the age of 65. Some of these are political prisoners. Hatice Yıldız, 75 years old, who was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison on the allegation of "financing an illegal organisation" for sending money to her daughter and her daughter's ward mate in prison, is just one of these prisoners. Hatice Yıldız has been held in Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison since 23 March.

 

SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN WITH PRISONERS

 

Another prominent issue regarding prisons during the year was that money sent to prisoners was investigated as "financing an illegal organization". Many people, including Hatice Onaran, one of the executives of IHD, were arrested for sending money to prisoners in prisons. This was also used as a pretext for many investigations and lawsuits. IHD and the Association of Families of Prisoners and Prisoners' Families (TUHAYDER), stating that sending money to prisons cannot be considered a criminal offence, started a campaign of "depositing money to prisoners". In this context, money is sent to prisoners every week in many cities.

 

ISOLATION WITHIN ISOLATION

 

The policy of isolation was deepened throughout the year. Prisoners were subjected to "isolation within isolation" in the Y, S and High Security prisons that have been built in recent years. According to the data of the Ministry of Justice, there are 7 S and 14 type Y prisons. In these prisons, prisoners are completely prevented from contact with the outside and people. Even small windows are covered with wire fences, preventing the sun from entering. While the cells are monitored by cameras 24 hours a day, prisoners' ventilation hours are limited to 1 hour a day.

 

The Prisoners' Solidarity Initiative (TDI) launched a campaign at the beginning of 2024 to close these prisons, which deepen the isolation. Within the framework of the campaign, meetings with prisoners' families and statements were made in front of prisons and courthouses. In addition, various actions and events were organised to raise awareness against the isolation in prisons.

 

Tomorrow: Judiciary

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu