RIHA – A new report by ÖHD’s Riha Branch highlights worsening conditions and serious rights violations in Tokat Prison, including denial of medical care to ill prisoners, and urges urgent action from national and international bodies.
Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Riha (Urfa) Branch revealed its report on Tokat Prison. Speaking at a press conference, Serhat Kurt, co-spokesperson of the ÖHD Prison Commission, presented the findings of a 27-page report, emphasizing that earlier warnings had gone unheeded and that “the problems continued to deepen.” The report details widespread violations, ranging from inadequate healthcare to politically motivated parole delays and arbitrary administrative practices.
HEALTHCARE WITHHELD OVER “MOUTH SEARCH” REFUSALS
A central concern in the report is the systemic denial of medical care to prisoners who refuse to comply with so-called “mouth search” procedures during hospital or infirmary transfers. According to Kurt, “prisoners who cannot be transferred to hospitals for 7 months cannot undergo medical examinations, the treatment of seriously ill patients is delayed and their condition is getting serious.”
He cited multiple cases of prisoners suffering from critical illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease, cataracts, and cancer. Among those named in the report are Aydın Değirmenci (colon cancer), Yunus Şimir (heart disease), and Ömer Yaman (70 years old, hypertension).
Kurt referenced the United Nations’ (UN) Nelson Mandela Rules, which require that prisoners receive healthcare equal to that available in the community. “However, these standards are not provided in Tokat Prison,” he said, arguing that the institution’s practices violate both domestic and international human rights standards.
PAROLE DELAYS BASED ON POLITICAL QUESTIONS
The report also highlights a pattern of parole postponements based on prisoners’ responses to politically charged questions. Kurt stated, “Prisoners are asked political questions in the Administrative Observation Board, and the answers given about the PKK and Mr Abdullah Öcalan are used as a justification for prolonging the execution.” He noted that inmate Ferit Şahin, for instance, had his release delayed six times before finally being approved on the seventh board.
In addition, the report outlines discriminatory treatment of political prisoners compared to judicial prisoners, including restricted access to telephone and video calls, frequent and intrusive searches, censorship of reading material and television channels, and the rejection of transfer requests to facilities closer to families.
“The exile of prisoners and the rejection of their requests for transfer to places where their families live violate the right to respect for private life and the right to treatment in accordance with human dignity,” the report states.
CALL FOR OVERSIGHT AND REFORM
In response to the documented violations, ÖHD has issued a formal appeal to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution (TİHEK), the Ministries of Health and Justice, and the Turkish Parliament’s Human Rights Inquiry Commission.
Kurt stressed the urgent need for independent oversight mechanisms, citing “the situation of sick prisoners, the physical conditions of the prison and the unlawful treatment of prisoners” as pressing concerns. The report concludes with 36 recommendations aimed at ending discriminatory practices, restoring access to healthcare, and ensuring compliance with human rights norms.
The first section of the report outlines the methodology, previous monitoring efforts, and interviews conducted inside the prison. The remainder is divided into categories including violations of the prohibition on torture, health and hygiene issues, discrimination, freedom of expression, and denial of parole and fair treatment.
As calls for reform grow louder, the Tokat Prison report adds to mounting evidence of systemic abuse in Turkey’s penitentiary system — and raises urgent questions about institutional accountability.