It is stated that prisoners in Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison were subjected to various violations of rights. It was noted that women prisoners went barefoot to many places because they objected to shoe searches and their basic needs were not met.

 

Çiğdem Özlü, a woman politician who was arrested in Qaxizman (Kağızman) district of Qers (Kars) province in 2016 after being detained for "being an illegal organization member", released after 6 months of imprisonment and re-arrested şn 2022 after her sentence was upheld, is one of the prisoners subjected to such violations. 

 

 

Her husband Yaşar Özlü visited Çiğdem Özlü and said, "Prisoners' shoes are taken off. Prisoners refuse this practive without compromising their principles. This is not the only problem they face. Woman guards are physically and verbally harassing the prisoners. They are not given their medication. Prisoners are forced to go barefoot everywhere. They even go barefoot to the infirmary because of the searched."

 

Pointing out that violations against political prisoners have increased at a time when discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue are being held, Yaşar Özlü said, "There is a discriminatory approach against political prisoners. Everyone wants an honourable peace. The people there are people who are struggling for the peace of the society." Özlü stated that the families of prisoners should struggle together against the oppression.

 

Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) member Şeyma Aladağ, who met with some prisoners, stated that even the most basic needs of women prisoners are not met. Lawyer Şeyma Aladağ said, "Despite the ministry's decision to distribute hygiene packs to prisoners, the administration arbitrarily disrupts the distribution. Our questions about why hygienic pads are not given to prisoners regularly are answered as 'We knew that they were given, is that so? Prisoners are forced to be searched for shoes during closed visits".

 

Şeyma Aladağ stated that the pressures increased with the change of the prison administration. "Prisoners cannot benefit from their right to go to the infirmary despite their health problems. Their requests to go to the infirmary are terminated by people who come to the ward door and who are not even known whether they are medical staff or not, by saying 'tell us what your complaint is and we will bring you medication'. Prisoners' psychiatric medication is administered under the supervision of two wardens and their mouths are monitored with a handheld camera. When they want to discuss such problems and objections, they are made to stand in the rooms where they are interviewed and asked to convey their demands. When we asked the reason for this, we received the answer 'they should convey it in a short and concise way and leave'."

 

Şeyma Aladağ called for the sensitivity of political parties and non-governmental organizations and warned that silence against oppression would lead to an increase in violations. 

 

MA / Ferhat Sezgin