IZMIR - Prisoners in Kırıklar Type F Closed Prison No 1 have been poisoned by food poisoning for the second time in a month. Lawyer Onurcan Aykut stated that the prisoners are worried.
Nearly 50 prisoners in Kırıklar Type F Closed Prison No 1 were poisoned by the lentil soup they were given on the evening of 26 December. The prisoners were treated in the infirmary instead of being hospitalised. Lawyer Onurcan Aykut, a member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), met with prisoners in prison on 2 January. Prisoners stated that they were treated in the infirmary the day after they were poisoned.
Aykut stated that prisoners were sent back to their wards after the intervention at the infirmary. Aykut said, "Poisoning is detected in the morning and when it is detected, the medical examination of the prisoners is seriously delayed. The next day, they were examined only at lunchtime. After the poisoning incident, prisoners filed a criminal complaint, but we do not know at what stage the process is after the criminal complaint."
Stating that the prisoners are in good condition, Aykut said, "There was another poisoning incident about 1 month ago. The examinations of the poisoned prisoners were delayed and the prisoners had serious problems. We wanted to meet with the prison administration about the issue, but we did not receive any response."
About other complaints of prisoners Aykut said, "Prisoners said that the conditions of detention in prison are not humane. They stated that with the latest incident, violations of rights have become evident. Many of the prisoners are ill. Therefore, the food and drinks brought to the prison should be inspected regularly. However, the food given here is also not inspected."
Aykut said that prisoners have been carrying out "door beating" actions against the violations they have been experiencing and that these actions have been used as justification for execution burnings and solitary confinement. Aykut continued as follows: "Recently, there have been a lot of cell punishments and delay of releases. Prisoners say that their protests will increase if prison conditions continue like this. Not only political prisoners but also judicial prisoners are experiencing many violations of rights. Forensic prisoners complain about the occupancy rate in the wards. Many of them sleep on the floor. Using a bunk bed is a luxury for them. They also have problems with hot water and hygiene. There are serious problems with the nutrition of both political and judicial prisoners."