Human Rights Association (IHD) Izmir Branch published the report of violation of rights in the city’s prisons in the last 4 months.
The report was read by branch executive Barış Işık through social media as it is not possible to hold press conferences because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The report covers rights violations in Buca Kırıklar F Type, Şakran 1, 2, 3 and 4 No T Type, Şakran Woman Closed, İzmir Child Closed, Ödemiş T Type and Menemen R Type prisons.
Işık emphasized that oppressive practices incompatible with human dignity have increased in prisons in the last 4 months.
Işık pointed out that the number of prisoners and guards who proved positive to coronavirus increases by the day.
Işık noted: “The overcrowding in the wards and the movement in the prison help the fast spreading of coronavirus in prisons. When we read the information received from families and prisoners contained in our report we can clearly see that the necessary precautions to counter the epidemic are not taken in prisons. We also see that there are problems with the health service and the violations of rights are increasing.”
Among the violations and reccomendation listed in the report are the following:
- Applications and complaints should be delivered to the necessary authorities immediately and without any restrictions.
- Judicial and administrative mechanisms should carry out an effective investigation into the applications and complaints made.
- Prisoners’ right to contact family and the outside world should not be hampered.
- Prisoners should be transferred to prisons as close as possible to their families and lawyers, as indicated by international and national legislation.
- Newspapers, magazines, radio, clothes, letter and book restriction practices should be abandoned.
- The right to talk, correspondence and defense in the mother tongue should be legally guaranteed.
- Isolation punishments should be canceled immediately.
- Restrictions on the social and cultural activities of prisoners should be lifted.
- During the pandemic process, appropriate measures and precautions should be taken and regular checks should be carried out taking into consideration the suggestion of the institutions and organizations working in this field, especially the World Health Organization.
- Independent health institutions should be allowed to enter prisons and carry out investigations.”