content tagged with Prisons

Court rejects release of 32-year prisoner despite top court ruling

Court rejects release of 32-year prisoner despite top court ruling

The prisoner’s lawyer likened his client’s situation to that of MP-elect Can Atalay, who was not released despite a Constitutional Court ruling, after lower courts refused to comply.

AKP, criminalization and the Republic of 'Campus' Prisons

AKP, criminalization and the Republic of 'Campus' Prisons

The AKP regime's prison policies are the product not only of a logic of punishment, but also of a practice of establishing a political and social order. Therefore, to think about prisons is to talk not only about prisoners, but also about the limits of our freedom.

15 April 2025 Mustafa Eren

Seven windows of isolation

Seven windows of isolation

Life in isolation is based on infinite repetition. Every day is a copy of the one before. Imagine living the same day repeatedly for 10, 20, even 30 years. You begin to feel as though you’re suspended in time, your sense of time slowly eroding.

3 November 2024

Suspicious death in Mardin prison

Suspicious death in Mardin prison

A 32-year-old inmate who was recently imprisoned was reportedly hospitalized after a heart attack and was returned to the prison after treatment.

14 October 2024

Rights violations in Van prisons

Rights violations in Van prisons

Reported violations range from restricted access to healthcare to delayed prisoner releases.

30 September 2024 Zerrin Sargut

Ayça Söylemez

Imprisoned lawyer exposes use of disciplinary investigations to pressure political prisoners

Imprisoned lawyer exposes use of disciplinary investigations to pressure political prisoners

Barkın Timtik explained unlawful practices regarding disciplinary investigations frequently opened against political prisoners.

22 September 2024 Ayça Söylemez

Ayça Söylemez

Tap water ‘smells of bleach’ in Muğla prison

Tap water ‘smells of bleach’ in Muğla prison

Prisoners serving aggravated life sentences have shared rights violations they experience.

18 September 2024 Ayça Söylemez

İnanç Yıldız

Elderly prisoner denied medication in Batman prison

Elderly prisoner denied medication in Batman prison

The 72-year-old prisoner has been denied essential medication for two weeks due to the "unavailability" of the drugs.

29 August 2024 İnanç Yıldız

Turkey's human rights agency affirms prisoners' right to request non-smoking cells

Turkey's human rights agency affirms prisoners' right to request non-smoking cells

An inmate had applied to the TİHEK after their request for a non-smoking cell was rejected by the prison administration.

Suspicious death in Urfa prison as officials claim inmate 'burned himself'

Suspicious death in Urfa prison as officials claim inmate 'burned himself'

A prisoner succumbed to his wounds after being severely burned. While the prison administration alleges that he burned himself, his family and lawyers question how he could have obtained a lighter in prison.

PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan given new 3-month family visit ban

PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan given new 3-month family visit ban

The authorities have not provided a reason for the ban. Öcalan has not been able to contact his family and lawyers for over 3 years.

Prisoners end hunger strike after transfer from ‘well-type’ prison confirmed

Prisoners end hunger strike after transfer from ‘well-type’ prison confirmed

The Type-Y prisons, dubbed as ‘well-type’ prisons by inmates, have been under scrutiny for exacerbating social isolation and mental health issues among inmates.

DEM Party demands end to confinement of PKK leader

DEM Party demands end to confinement of PKK leader

Imprisoned for 25 years, Abdullah Öcalan's last known contact with the outside world was three and a half years ago, when he had a disrupted phone call with his brother.

Public human rights agency documents overcrowding in prisons

Public human rights agency documents overcrowding in prisons

Some prisoners sleep on the floor, the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey found during visits to two prisons.

CİSST publishes prisons map of Turkey to enhance public data access

CİSST publishes prisons map of Turkey to enhance public data access

The map allows users to access detailed information about applications made to the association from prisons since 2014.

Suspicious death in Iğdır prison

Suspicious death in Iğdır prison

The prisoner reportedly took his own life. The autopsy report shows signs of physical violence.

MP questions legal basis for penalizing relatives sending money to prisoners

MP questions legal basis for penalizing relatives sending money to prisoners

Recently, a 75-year-old woman was found guilty of ‘financing terrorism’ due to sending money for her daughter’s needs in prison.

Two prisoners go on hunger strike in solidarity with ill and disabled inmate

Two prisoners go on hunger strike in solidarity with ill and disabled inmate

Rights defenders have urged authorities to address rights violations occurring in "high-security" prisons, which they describe as "literal coffins" for prisoners suffering from illnesses.

22 April 2024 Evrim Kepenek

Ayça söylemez

‘How can there be water problem in a recently constructed prison?’

‘How can there be water problem in a recently constructed prison?’

Families of inmates held at the campus prison in Kırşehir described both the mistreatment suffered by prisoners and the difficulties they face during visits

26 March 2024 Ayça Söylemez

Report reveals most applications regarding prisons remain unanswered

Report reveals most applications regarding prisons remain unanswered

Out of 3,249 applications regarding human rights violations in a year, only 229 received a response, reports CİSST.

23 January 2024

Lawyers challenge ‘suicide' verdict in suspicious death in Kocaeli prison

Lawyers challenge ‘suicide' verdict in suspicious death in Kocaeli prison

For the second time in two years, a “terror” convict died suspiciously in the same prison.

28 November 2023 Evrim Kepenek

Author Sadık Aslan faces extended prison term as his release delayed again

Author Sadık Aslan faces extended prison term as his release delayed again

Opposition politicians argue that the recurrent delays in releases have become a pattern, pointing to prison administrations taking on "judicial responsibilities."

17 November 2023

PKK leader Öcalan faces new lawyer visit ban

PKK leader Öcalan faces new lawyer visit ban

Öcalan's lawyers are prepared to submit an application to the Constitutional Court in response to the ongoing bans.

16 November 2023

Inmate dies suspiciously in Urfa prison

Inmate dies suspiciously in Urfa prison

The 36-year old prisoner’s family said he had no known pre-existing health conditions.

15 November 2023

Turkey’s new ‘high-security’ prisons raise ‘social isolation’ concerns

Turkey’s new ‘high-security’ prisons raise ‘social isolation’ concerns

Prolonged social isolation may cause mental and physical health issues, warns the Ankara Medical Chamber.

30 October 2023

Prisoner on hunger strike for 117 days demands transfer

Prisoner on hunger strike for 117 days demands transfer

Nedim Öztürk was transferred to a high-security prison after his release was postponed.

17 August 2023 Ayça Söylemez

Prisoner's drawing materials seized during cell raid

Prisoner's drawing materials seized during cell raid

The justification for confiscating the pens was cited as "drawing party flags and symbols."

Antalya prisoner launches hunger strike after alleged severe torture

Antalya prisoner launches hunger strike after alleged severe torture

Burhan Batur claims had been been subjected to torture, including being "hogtied."

Rights group draws attention to rights violations in prisons

Rights group draws attention to rights violations in prisons

In the prisons in Turkey's northwestern Marmara Region, four prisoners died of illnesses in three months, according to the Human Rights Association.

Summer water cuts in prison in one of Turkey's hottest cities trouble prisoners

Summer water cuts in prison in one of Turkey's hottest cities trouble prisoners

A Green Left MP has addressed the issue at the parliament, submitting a prliamentary question to the justice minister.

Prisoners put in punishment cell allegedly for 'writing book in Kurdish'

Prisoners put in punishment cell allegedly for 'writing book in Kurdish'

An HDP deputy has brought two separate cases of rights violations into the parliamentary agenda.

Second hearing to be held of case over suspicious death in prison

Second hearing to be held of case over suspicious death in prison

It was claimed that Yılmaz Ekinci committed suicide by hanging himself on an iron part of the door in the cell which is 1 meter and 20 cm high from the floor. Ekinci's then-prison mate is now a witness in the case over Ekinci's death.

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