Mehmet Emin Çam, 73, who is being held in Batman Beşiri Type T Closed Prison and is on Human Rights Association's (İHD) list of seriously ill prisoners, was referred to hospital on 17 January with the complaints of numbness in his brain and left foot and vascular blockage in his heart. Çam was taken to Batman Training and Research Hospital for treatment and was forced to be treated in handcuffs. Çam objected to this and was taken back to prison without treatment.

 

His daughter Şimel Çam, who stated that her father was dragged to death, said that patients' right to treatment was prevented in prison. She said that she showed her father's reports uploaded to e-government to another doctor and the doctor explained how grave the situation was. Şimel Çam said, "My father's condition is getting worse day by day. Since the hospital and prison doctors did not inform us, we showed the results to a doctor friend. He told us the following: 'According to MRI and CT imaging, there are atrophies, these atrophies may cause cerebral haemorrhage and cerebral infarction (stroke) in the future. There is suspected ischaemia in the right MCA area. He should take Ecopirin for life. Even one day of medication irregularity is risky enough to cause infarction. He should use tarden (alvastin) for LDL. There should be absolutely no irregularity in medication use. Their blood pressure should be monitored regularly. Hypertension is one of the biggest risks for cerebral haemorrhage and cerebral infarction. LDL is high in blood analyses and poses a risk for patients in this condition. It is important to check HgbA1C and follow-up in terms of DM (Diabetes Mellitus) is necessary. DM and HT are important causes of chronic risks that will cause these results.  These statements of the doctor reveal the gravity of the situation."

 

Noting that the lawyer met with her father today, Şimel Çam said, "The lawyer who met with my father stated that my father was tried to be treated in a solitary cell in handcuffs under the control of a specialised sergeant and that he did not accept the treatment because of this. My father stated that the tumour in his brain has also grown and that he is being dragged to death in prison. He must be treated outside, he must be released immediately.  We call on everyone to be sensitive so that my father's body is not released from prison."

 

ABOUT ÇAM

 

Çam was arrested on 12 December 2012 on the allegations of "KCK City Assembly structuring" when he was Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Sêrt Provincial Chair. After 10 months Çam was released to stand trial without arrest, Siirt Heavy Penal Court sentenced him to 9 years for "membership in an illegal organization". Çam, who was arrested on 14 March 2022 after the sentence was approved by the Court of Cassation, was kept in solitary confinement in Batman Type M Closed Prison for 17 days.

 

MUST TAKE MEDICATION FOR LIFE

 

On 1 April Çam was transferred to Beşiri Type T Closed Prison and was found to have a brain tumour. On 27 May, Çam had a heart attack and underwent an angioplasty and has to take medication for life. Çam, who also has kidney disease, underwent kidney surgery twice. Despite this, the cysts in his kidneys reoccur. Çam, who also underwent cataract surgery, has myopia and astigmatism in his eyes. Çam, who also lost his hearing in his right ear, has difficulty in walking because of paralysis on his left side.

 

MA / Fethi Balaman