ANKARA- The Freedom for Ill Prisoners Initiative once again called on the authorities to release of the ill prisoner Abdulalim Kaya, who is 80 years old and 93 percent disabled.

The Freedom for Ill Prisoners Initiative came together once again in the 486th week of their press statements to draw attention to the situation of ill prisoners. The statement made in front of the Ankara Branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) and "Treatment is a right and cannot be prevented" banner was unfurled.

The statement was read by IHD Central Executive Board (MYK) member Nuray Çevirmen. Çevirmen pointed out that there are 1,517 sick prisoners in prisons, 651 of whom are seriously ill, and that 41 prisoners, 23 of whom died from disease, died in prisons in 2023. Çevirmen stated that these deaths in prisons were avoidable.

Then Çevirmen shared the situation of 80-year-old sick prisoner Abdulalim Kaya, who is held in Batman Type M Closed Prison.

RELEASE DEMAND FOR ABDULALIM KAYA FOR THE SECOND TIME

Reminding that they made a call twice this year for the ill prisoner Abdulalim Kaya, Çevirmen said: “Abdulalim Kaya, who was born in 1943, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for a press statement he attended in 2008, and this prison sentence was approved in 2011. While he was in Bursa, he had a surgery for prostate disease in October 2021, and was taken into custody on October 14, 2021 and was put in Bursa Type H Closed Prison without even having his stitches removed, When he was first arrested, he was held alone for 60 days while he was ill. As a result of the applications, his sentence was postponed for 6 months on January 4, 2021, 3 months later. After his sentence was postponed, he returned to Sêrt (Siirt) and started to continue his treatment there.”

93 PERCENT DISABLED REPORT GIVEN

Çevirmen stated that Kaya, who was reported as 91 percent disabled in 2021, also has a prostate disease and has hearing and vision problems. Çevirmen said: One of his kidneys has failed and he has to live with only one kidney. He is also diagnosed with dementia. He has heart disease and had angiography about 1 year ago. With the re-checks on October 12, 2022, a 93 percent disability report was given by Siirt Training and Research Hospital. In this report, it is stated that 'he will not be able to continue his life alone, he will need constant care and treatment during his sentence, he will not be able to continue his sentence under prison conditions, the prisoner’s illness is definitely life-threatening, it does not seem possible for him to continue his life alone and our health board has stated that it is appropriate to carry out a control examination after 2 years to see whether this situation has improved or not.’

'DESPITE HIS SERIOUS ILLNESS, KAYA ARRESTED AGAIN'

Stating that the demands of both his family and the IHD for Kaya's release were not taken into consideration, Çevirmen said: “Despite his serious illness, Abdulalim Kaya was arrested again on March 31, 2023 and placed in Êlih Type M Closed Prison. Due to his illnesses, he was taken to Elazığ Type R Prison, where he was held alone for 1.5 months and his condition worsened. As he was held alone and his condition worsened, his family applied to bring him back to Batman and he was brought to Batman Type M about 5 months ago. On August 31, 2023, the Forensic Medicine Institute gave a report saying ‘He may remain in prison.’ The prison administration also made correspondence for his release in the context of the Presidential Circular due to his old age.”

‘KAYA CANNOT STAY IN PRISON’

Çevirmen stated that they demanding the release of Abdulalim Kaya, who is unable to stay in prison due to his old age, 93 percent disability, serious illnesses and inability to continue his life on his own, so that he could continue his treatment with his family in healthier conditions.