RIHA - Former TJA Spokesperson Ayşe Gökkan, who wrote about the violations in prisons, said: "I am still being punished for opposing the oppression of women and Kurds. I will continue my struggle wherever I am."

 

Ayşe Gökkan, former Spokesperson of the Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad / TJA), who was arrested in Amed on January 28, 2021, on allegations of "being a leader of a terrorist organization" and "being a member of a terrorist organization", was sent to Sincan Women's Closed Prison on March 2, 2023.

 

Ayşe Gökkan, who is currently held in Sincan Prison, wrote about the rights violations had by the prisoners and the prison conditions.

 

Stating that the prisoners were subjected to strip searches, which damaged human dignity, while being taken to prison or taken to court, Gökkan reminded the sexual violence was on Garibe Gezer in Kandıra Prison and stated that Gezer could not stand what she got through and was driven to suicide.

 

'I FACED THE RISK OF BRAIN HEMORRHAGE'

 

Drawing attention to the situation of seriously ill prisoners, Gökkan said: "The prisoners were 'killed' by being deprived of their right to treatment. 79 seriously ill prisoners lost their lives in prison in 2022, with the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) reporting that they 'may stay in prison'. The 679 seriously ill patients are waiting on death row. The right to access to health and treatment is being used as a complete method of torture. I faced the risk of brain hemorrhage many times because my high blood pressure medication was not given on time. We requested a tetanus vaccine because of the rusty doors and windows in the prison, but we have not yet been vaccinated. We have requested a cervical cancer vaccine, but the vaccine has not been administered yet."

 

CLEAN WATER IS NOT ACCESSIBLE

 

Stating that dirty water flows from the prison's taps, they cannot access clean water, Gökkan said: "We are forced to buy water from the canteen at high prices. We had many problems with food. I was starved and punished for being a vegetarian, and that being a vegetarian was perceived as a disease and left to doctor's approval. Vegetables and fruits are not sold in the prison canteen, and meals are not prepared in a hygienic environment. There were mouse parts in the food at Diyarbakır Prison. In Xinjiang, a 13-15 centimeter foreign object was found in a vegetarian meal, and a screw was found in the bread. Although we brought the objects found in the food to the prosecutor's office, our criminal complaint remained inconclusive."

 

BLOCKING KURDISH PUBLICATIONS AND JINEOLOGY MAGAZINE

 

Stating that Jineolojî magazine and Xwebûn newspaper were not given on the grounds that "they create security vulnerabilities", Gökkan said: " Kurdish letters are not given to us by the administration for months. Telephone rights are granted for only 10 minutes per week. Both we and our family are left in anxiety and fear. I wanted to talk to my detained brother by phone in prison, but my meeting did not take place for a month. Sending cargo between prisons is prohibited in prisons."

 

7 MONTHS VISIT BANNED

 

Stating that when MPs came to visit, they were prevented from meeting by saying "there is a ban on visiting", Gökkan said: "Although there was no legal obstacle, the prison administration did not provide a Kurdish translator and suggested hiring a paid translator. The most severe disciplinary punishments were given to the prisoners who went on hunger strike; therefore, a 7-month visit ban was imposed on them."

 

GÖKKAN LISTED THE VIOLATIONS IN THE PRISONS

 

Gökkan listed other violations in the prison as follows: "Our request to change wards within the prisoner is rejected as it is considered objectionable. During the raids on the wards under the name of search, our clothes are distributed, galoshes are not used during the search, our underwear is not searched in a hygienic manner. We are called with sexist addresses. 7 rooms, including living areas Harassment continues with 24/7 cameras. Lighting the inside of the sleeping area with projectors causes sleep disturbance in the prisoners. Although orthopedic materials are given by the doctor, they are not given for security reasons. No materials are given to clean the ventilation. We are exposed to racist practices. In the dress I received, there were three tiny yellow I was not given a dress because it was red and green. They locked us in the wards and left us to die during the earthquake in Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison on February 6, 2023. Four hours after the earthquake, the garden door was opened. We were asked to go up for air with every aftershock. Since 13 people went up to the 6-meter ventilation, they wanted to cause us to die with bricks falling from the roof."

 

115 CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS WERE FILED

 

Stating that she has submitted files 115 times to the Execution Judgeship, Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, national and international human rights institutions regarding rights violations regarding the prison administration, guards, and soldiers on duty, and has still not received any results, Gökkan said: "I am still being punished for opposing all kinds of oppression and fighting. I will continue my struggle wherever I am. It is essential for national and international law and human rights institutions to take action to prevent these rights violations."

 

CALL TO DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS

 

Reminding what democratic institutions can do to protect prisoners' right to hope, Gökkan said: "The letters and faxes can be sent to the Ministry of Justice. Relevant institutions can visit prisons in Turkey as delegations. Awareness can be raised by sending letters and faxes to the GNAT Human Rights Commission. The Amnesty International courts can be followed and whether there is a fair trial can be on the agenda. International Human Rights Organization, Freedom House, Freedom Now, Front Line, Defenders, Human Rights Watch, Madre, International Women's Union for Peace and Freedom, WILPE, World Organization Against Torture, CPT. The reports about our situation can be submitted to organizations. When the support is increased, Turkey will stop violating rights in prisons."

 

Stating that she will continue to fight by accepting freedom of expression and association as self-defense, Gökkan called on the public to "Show solidarity with us political prisoners, whose lives are imprisoned, through letters and campaigns."

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli