ANTALYA - Erol Kocer, a member of the Antalya branch of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (OHD), stated that the human rights violations occurring in prisons are contrary to the spirit of the process, saying, “Prisons are a test of sincerity in the process.” 

 

Human rights violations in prisons continue to increase with each passing day. Erol Kocer, a member of the Antalya branch of the Law Association for Freedom (OHD), spoke about the pressure and rights violations experienced. Kocer pointed to the rights violations occurring particularly in the Burdur High Security Closed Prison, stating that during their routine visits to the prison, they met with prisoners, prepared reports, and submitted them to the relevant institutions. 

 

Kocer stated that the prisoners told them they were deprived of many rights, were living in isolation, and had very limited means of communication. Kocer said that the prisoners' releases had been postponed and hospital transfers were very difficult, adding: "According to our data, there are nearly 85 sick prisoners in Antalya's prisons. The releases of 5-6 individuals in Burdur and Antalya have been postponed."

 

SINCERITY TEST  

  

He noted that despite the process, there has been no improvement in prisons, stating, "The prison issue is a sincerity test. Allegations of torture in prisons, the failure to release sick prisoners, and the detention of prisoners far from their families are the result of a deliberate policy." 

Kocer stressed that the transfer of prisoners from Kurdistan cities to prisons in Turkey far from their families also deepens isolation and breaks communication between families and prisoners. 

 

ISOLATION IN IMRALI

 

Stating that the isolation system applied in Imrali is reflected in prisons, Kocer said that prisoners held in solitary confinement are prevented from socialising and that attempts are made to prevent them from organising. 

 

He concluded: "The state has adopted a method of creating psychological pressure on people in conditions of complete isolation, isolating them, and at some point breaking their will. One of the fundamental aims of punishment is to rehabilitate individuals into society, but the state's policy has nothing to do with this. The aim here is entirely to break the prisoners' will, isolate them, and prevent any organised movement."

 

MA / Mehmet Gules