The Human Rights Association (İHD) Istanbul Branch Prisons Commission held the 509th of its weekly "F Session" sit in to draw attention to the condition of sick prisoners, at the İHD building in Taksim. Commission members drew attention to the situation of sick prisoner Yusuf Akbaba, who is in Denizli Type T Prison this week. A banner "Let the sick prisoner Yusuf Akbaba be released" was hung in the hall where the statement was made.

 

IHD Sick Prisoners Commission member Mehmet Acettin started by commemorating the prisoners  Garibe Gezer, Abdurrazak Şuyur, Halil Güneş, İlyas Demir, Vedat Erkmen, M. Gaffar and Salih Toğrul who were murdered in prison. Noting that violations of rights still occur in prisons, Acettin said that their calls regarding the issue were ignored. Acettin said that the alleged suicide of Vedat Erkmen's murder after Garibe Gezer broadened the discussion of the violation of the right to life.

 

'AKBABA IS BEING THREATENED WITH DEATH'

 

Emphasizing that Akbaba was kept in a solitary cell despite having difficulties in meeting his basic needs, Acettin said, “According to the information received; Akbaba is being held in a cell in the same corridor as the criminal prisoners and is constantly threatened with death by  them. Yusuf Akbaba, whose right to access healthcare and treatment has been denied, has been left for dead like other sick prisoners and needs to be released immediately so that he can be treated and his right to life can be protected.

 

Acettin demanded that Akbaba and all other sick, elderly and disabled prisoners be released as soon as possible and invited the public to be sensitive about this issue.