News Center - Kurdish politician and lawyer Aysel Tuğluk was released from Kandıra No. 1 F Type Closed Prison last evening after the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) reported that she cannot stay in prison.

The institute previously prepared a report saying that Aysel Tuğluk could stay in prison although she has been suffering from dementia since March 2021.

In July 2021, the Kocaeli University Forensic Medicine Institute reported that Aysel Tuğluk cannot stay in prison alone due to her illness. However, she was not released. In February 2022, Istanbul University prepared a report saying that her treatment was only possible under hospital conditions.

Despite these reports, she was kept in prison.

A campaign group called the 1000 Women for Freedom to Aysel Tuğluk was formed to demand the release of the Kurdish politician. The campaign group called for the immediate release of Aysel Tuğluk. In April 2022, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey also demanded her release, stating that she cannot maintain her life under prison conditions.

On October 26, the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) finally concluded that Aysel Tuğluk cannot stay in prison. Following the report, she was released from prison last evening.

Many people, including Aysel Tuğluk’s family members, lawyers, the members and MPs of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, gathered in front of the prison to welcome Aysel Tuğluk. People often chanted the slogan, “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Women, Life Freedom)” after the release of Aysel Tuğluk.

Who is Aysel Tuğluk?

Aysel Tuğluk is a Kurdish politician and lawyer. Born in Elazığ in 1965, she graduated from the Faculty of Law of İstanbul University and worked as a self-employed lawyer. She was previously a member of the Social Law Researches Foundation Board Council, the Turkish Human Rights Association (İHD). She is also a founding member of the Patriotic Women's Association (YKD).

In elections held in 2007, she was elected MP for Diyarbakır. In December 2009, the Turkish Constitutional Court expelled her from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and banned her from politics for five years. In the elections held in 2011, she was re-elected MP. In June 2012, she was sentenced to 14 years and seven months imprisonment on terrorism charges.

On December 26, 2016, she was arrested and she was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for “Opposing the law on rallies and demonstrations”. In March 2018, she was sentenced to another 10 years in prison for being a “leader of a terror organization”.

After six years in prison, Aysel Tuğluk was released from prison last evening.