AMED - ÖHD and TUAY-DER announced that, in their investigations in 13 prisons, the release of 28 prisoners was prevented for various reasons.

 

Amed Branch of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) and the Association for Assistance with Prisoners' Families (TUAY-DER) announced that the release periods of 28 prisoners in 13 prisons in Amed(Diyarbakır), Dîlok(Gaziantep), Elezîz(Elazığ), Erzîngan(Erzincan) and Erzirom(Erzurum) provinces have been extended. The report prepared on the subject was announced at a press conference held in the building of the Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations of Med Prisoners and Convict Families (MED TUHAD-FED). Many people from Diyarbakır City Protection Platform, People's Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP), Democratic Regions Party (DBP), United Pensioners' Union (BES) also attended the press conference.

 

THE ISOLATION OF ÖCALAN

 

Speaking at the meeting, ÖHD Prison Commission member Zeki Binbir said: "The isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan can not be accepted. The families of Abdullah Öcalan and prisoners Veysi Aktaş, Hamili Yıldırım and Ömer Hayri Konar have not been able to meet for 4 years, 8 months and 21 days, and that the visit of a lawyer has been prevented for 4 years, 3 months and 17 days. For 2 years and 8 months, the state of absolute lack of communication continues. The isolation imposed in İmralı is spreading to all prisons."

 

QUESTIONS WERE ASKED TO PRISONERS

 

Stating that the Prison Administration and Observation Boards act as "judicial mechanisms", Binbir said: "The concept of 'good conduct', which directly affects the right to personal freedom and security, is left to the arbitrary approaches of these boards and asked the prisoners: 'Do you regret it?', 'Will you participate in organizational activities after release?', Why didn't you move to the juridical cell?, Do you think the structure you are in as a terrorist organization?', 'What do you think abouy the PKK?', 'What will you do when you get out?', 'Does anyone in your family have a file on membership in the organization?', 'What do you think about Abdullah Öcalan?'"

 

'THE AUTHORITY IS ABUSED'

 

Binbir said: "The Administrative and Observation Boards have become the decision-making authority in cases where only the judicial authorities can make a decision about the prisoner, in a way that even exceeds the powers of the judicial authorities. Prison administrations are abusing the powers given to them with the new regulation. This practice must be stopped immediately." 

 

Emphasizing that an evaluation should be made without discrimination among the prisoners, Binbir continued as follows: "Prisoners whose parole rights are prevented by the illegal approaches and decisions of the Administrative Observation Boards in the closed penal institutions we include in our report should be released immediately. We will address the rights violations experienced by the prisoners in this regard. We invite the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the Ministry of Justice and the Turkish Grand National Assembly Human Rights Investigation Commission to take action."