She wants freedom for her mentally disabled son

  • actual
  • 08:39 24 January 2025
  • |
img

ŞIRNEX - Hacı Elçi was arrested 8 years ago and sentenced to life imprisonment despite his mental disability report. "He cannot meet his needs. Is this a right?" reacts mother Belkıs Elçi.

Hacı Elçi, who was shot in the head during the curfews in Cizre district of Şırnak in 2015-2016, was arrested after months of treatment. At the final trial held at Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 2 on 17 January 2020, Elçi was sentenced to life imprisonment on the charge of "disrupt the unity and territorial integrity of the state". The court did not take into consideration the 52% mental disability report of Cizre State Hospital.
 
In 2018, Elçi's lawyer requested a report from the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) on his client's mental disability. In its report dated 11 May 2018, the ATK reported that "(...) no mental illness or mental retardation was detected, and the examination of the forensic file did not reveal any medical findings and documents (...) that would indicate that the defendant was in a state of mental disorder at the time he committed the aforementioned crime, which would eliminate his ability to comprehend the legal meaning and consequences of the act and to direct his behaviour in relation to this act (...)". The court took the ATK report into consideration and sentenced Elçi to life imprisonment.
 
Elçi has been in Şırnak Type T Closed Prison since the day he was arrested. Elçi's needs are met by the other prisoners with whom he is held. His family draws attention to the fact that their child is mentally disabled and demands his release.
 
'MENTALLY DISABLED FROM BIRTH'
 
His mother Belkıs Elçi said that her son was mentally disabled from birth and was sentenced to life imprisonment despite his disability report. Belkıs Elçi said, "He was constantly under the supervision of doctors here. Then a curfew was declared in Cizre and he was shot in the head while sitting in front of our house. My son was seriously wounded and was treated for months in Mardin Hospital. Then he was hospitalised in Istanbul. Then they arrested him. Is it right to arrest a mentally disabled person with epilepsy? We were receiving my son's disability pension. He has a disability report. He also has a rotten report. My son is paralysed in prison, his needs are met by his friends. Is this a right? Is there such a law? This is cruelty and nothing else."
 
Belkıs Elçi emphasised that her son was not in a condition to live in prison conditions and demanded that the verdict be overturned and her son be released. Belkıs Elçi added: "Everyone in Cizîr knows my son and knows that he is mentally disabled. He cannot meet his own needs now. He lives with the help of his friends. He feels nauseous and dizzy every day. What kind of justice is this? When I visit him in prison, I ask him, 'How are you?' He just says, 'I'm fine'. He doesn't know how to speak. He has a lot of difficulty because he was wounded in the head during the bans. How can you put a person in prison in this condition and give him a life sentence? My only demand is that this decision must be cancelled and my son must be released as soon as possible."
 
MA / Zeynep Durgut
 

View More Articles

25/04/2025
16:29 Youtube bans 'Kurdish Resurrection' documentary
16:23 IHD 2024 report: At least 7 thousand 431 rights violations in Kurdistan
15:40 One thousand 249 violations in 17 prisons in 3 months
15:17 DBP and DEM Party delegation met with Ilham Ahmad
14:54 Report on 9 prisons: Abolish Administrative and Monitoring Boards
14:39 Baloch protest in 20 cities against torture in prisons
14:21 Call for tomorrow's march of Platform for Combating Drugs
12:26 Kurdish Conference in Qamishlo starts tomorrow
11:51 Families applies to go to İmralı
11:47 We have hope even if it is weak says Sırrı Sureyya Onder's doctor
10:58 Citizens staying outside all night: Gathering areas insufficient, we are not safe
10:10 Successive earthquakes continue in Istanbul
09:47 Abdullah Öcalan's position must be legally secured says lawyer Ozen
09:21 Same question after every earthquake: Are we prepared for earthquakes?
09:18 It's time for Öcalan to be free says socologist Michael Löwy
09:15 My son must be release says mother of ill prisoner Akpinar
08:29 4.5 magnitude earthquake in Kütahya
24/04/2025
16:46 Treatment of ill prisoner Demir prevented
16:09 We were told that steps will be taken regarding isolation says Sezai Temelli
14:56 Call for 'Freedom for ill prisoner Yanik'
14:45 Daughter of ill prisoner Cam: His condition is bad, he must be released urgently
14:44 Statement after meeting: Öcalan's conditions must change without any buts
13:24 Turkish attacks continue despite ceasefire
12:04 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
12:04 Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmad met with Nachirvan Barzani
11:46 Solution lies in Abdullah Öcalan's road map says mother whose son disappeared
11:21 DEM Party and Ministry of Justice meeting starts
11:01 'Execution law should be regulated for ill prisoners'
10:22 9 years undiagnosed prisoner's teeth fall out
09:38 Important meeting in Hewlêr
09:38 Students detained in Ankara release
09:37 Öcalan's proposals are the key to peace and a universal value says Maurizio Acerbo
23/04/2025
13:56 DEM Party delegation to meet Minister Tunc: Which agendas are on the table?
13:46 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Marmara Sea
13:24 Application for release of ill prisoner Cam
09:47 Equal citizenship, freedom of belief and peace demand Alevis
09:21 National Sovereignty and Children's Day in shadow of deaths and violations
09:15 She lost a son, another PKK member: One side peace impossible
22/04/2025
16:41 Condolence for Gulsun Tan
16:34 Onder's treatment on its 7th day: Visits from Bar Association and different circles
14:34 Prisoner Cam sent back to prison after heart attack
14:27 Mazloum Abdi announces date for Kurdish National Conference
13:51 Parties close to reconciliation in Tishreen
13:12 Kurdish Journalists' Day: We are heirs of 127 years of resistance
12:52 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
12:46 Citizens point to Parliament for solution
11:20 Struggle for peace and democracy should not be placed on shoulders of Kurds says Erdogmus
10:47 No release despite Constitutional Court ruling
10:05 Prisoners continue hunger strike against well-type prisons
09:24 6 members of family killed in clashes: If state sincere, it should take steps