MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed (Diyarbakır) – In Turkey, there are 1,517 sick prisoners, 651 of whom are seriously ill, according to the report released by the Human Rights Association (İHD) in 2022. While the number of the sick prisoners increases day by day, the sick prisoners are often deprived of their right to life and health due to arbitrary practices in Turkey’s prisons. Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk has been held behind bars although she has suffered from dementia. The policy carried out against her reveals the inhuman practices against the prisoners. The women attending the rally held by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Amed on August 6 with the motto, “No to War and Exploitation, We are the Solution” demanded the immediate release of Aysel Tuğluk and all sick prisoners.

“Aysel Tuğluk has been held behind bars because she is Kurd”

Nur Kazan told NuJINHA that Aysel Tuğluk has been held behind bars because she is a Kurd. “Holding Aysel Tuğluk behind bars despite her illness is an unjust practice. If Aysel Tuğluk was not a Kurdish woman, she would be free now. Everyone sees the inhuman practices against the prisoners and the Kurdish people,” she said.

“Holding sick prisoners behind bars is a crime”

Behiye Sevim, one of the women attending the rally, underlined that as women, they will never give up struggling. Emphasizing that holding sick prisoners behind bars is a crime against humanity, Behiye Sevim said, “Aysel Tuğluk, Mehmet Emin Özkan and hundreds of sick prisoners have been held behind bars; they can no longer meet their needs. I am calling on the Kurds; do not stay at home, chemical weapons are used against our children. Using chemical weapons and imposing isolation are a crime against humanity. The Kurdish people must rise up now. We must not remain silent anymore. Even if we have nothing, we can die with dignity.”

“The isolation imposed in prisons must end”

Maşallah Kaya also demanded the immediate release of Aysel Tuğluk and the end of the isolation imposed on the political prisoners. “Release the prisoners who are not released despite having completed their sentences. We want peace not death. We do not want more young people to die. Mothers have already suffered a lot, enough is enough. Let’s turn this rally into the rally of peace. Aysel Tuğluk and all sick prisoners should be released,” she told us.

“Bring peace, end this massacre”

One of the women attending the rally, Kamile Şimşek said, “Aysel Tuğluk has been held behind bars although she is seriously ill. Her health is deteriorating day by day. All sick prisoners should be released. Those who have already served their sentences are sentenced to seven or eight years in prison. We are the peace mothers. All sick prisoners should be immediately released. The sick prisoners are not taken to hospitals to receive treatment and they are held in solitary cells. All prisoners should be released to bring peace and end this massacre.”