Rights violations against prisoners continue across prisons. One of the facilities where severe violations have been reported is Erzurum Dumlu No. 2 High-Security Prison. Prisoner Oktay Gul shared details of the violations during his weekly phone call with his cousin, Serwan Gul. Speaking about the call, Serwan Gul said: “During our conversation, my cousin told me that they are being subjected to treatment that violates human dignity and to systematic violence by prison guards.”

 

Listing the violations described by Oktay Gul, Serwan Gul stated that his cousin and other prisoners have for months been exposed to violence by the prison administration and guards, subjected to cell punishments for weeks at a time, and had their belongings confiscated. He added that prisoners are unable to access the money sent by their families. 

 

Quoting his cousin, Serwan Gul said: “They are carrying out a policy of intimidation by placing political prisoners in solitary confinement. We are not even allowed to go out to the yard.”

 

‘THE PROCESS MUST BE CARRIED OUT IN LINE WITH ITS SPIRIT’

 

Stating that the continuation of such injustices and unlawful practices during a time when a peace process is being discussed undermines trust, Gul questioned why such wrongful policies are being pursued against prisoners if a process truly exists.

 

“We sincerely believe in and support this process. If they genuinely share the same commitment to this process, they must abandon such practices and actions that violate human dignity. Political prisoners are being subjected to ill-treatment at a time when peace is being discussed in every respect. This must be brought to an end as soon as possible, and actions must be taken in line with the spirit of the process,” he said.

 

MA / Bilal Babat