Prisoner's requests to be tested for Covid-19 are rejected  

2020-08-15 13:16:43


	DİYARBAKIR - Speaking about the increasing violations of rights in prisons, MED TUHAD-FED Co-chair Mehmet Temizyüz said that the prisoners are not allowed to see the sky and their test requests are denied.

	Pointing out that the violations of rights in prisons increased during the Covid- 19 period, Mesopotamia Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations with Prisoner’s Families (MED TUHAD-FED) Co-Chair Mehmet Temizyüz called for awareness. Emphasizing that the danger of coronavirus is increasing day by day, Temizyüz said that the situation in prisons has become dire.

	 

	LIVES OF PRISONERS ARE IN DANGER

	 

	Reminding that the prisoners who were left outside the scope of the execution law are exposed to the danger of coronavirus, Temizyüz noted that according to the data of the Ministry of Justice, there is a systematic slavery condition in prisons with 350 thousand prisoners. Reminding the warning of the World Health Organization about the pandemic peaking in the upcoming days, Temizyüz said: "Despite the measures taken outside the prison, the virus that spreads rapidly can spread even faster in the prison. We call on the government to implement the necessary legal changes and take measures against the virus. The lives of thousands of prisoners are in grave danger."

	 

	TEST REQUESTS ARE BEING REJECTED

	 

	Expressing that the coronavirus process affects the prisoners psychologically, Temizyüz continued as follows: "Most of the activities in prison like family visits, attorney interviews and all social activities are cancelled. Therefore the prisoners are confined to their cells. That effects their psychology. Things get even worse with the anxiety caused by the virus. The government sees the virus as an opportunity and implement prohibitions. This should be prevented and necessary steps should be taken for the prisoners. The prisoners are not taken to the hospital because of the virus. When they do, they have to be quarantined in a cell all alone. Their requests to get tested for Covid- 19 is rejected."

	 

	Stating that torture cases increased in Aksaray, Afyon, Elazığ, Trabzon Beşikdüzü and Maraş Türkoğlu prisons, Temizyüz said: "The government approaches the prisoners with an attitude of obedience. They implement their rules and when the prisoner does not obey, they are being punished. Doctors don't give them assault reports, the prosecutors don't process their complaints, thousands of things like these happens every day. They are not even allowed to see the sky."