Lawyer of prisoner who had heart attack: Must be released immediately

2025-04-29 09:11:20


	SÊRT - Seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Emin Cam was taken back to prison after suffering a heart attack. Mehmet Nuri Ekinci, the lawyer of Cam said, "He must be released immediately."

	The health condition of Mehmet Emin Cam, 73, who is on the list of ill prisoners of the Human Rights Association (IHD), remains serious. Cam is being held in Batman Beşiri T-Type Closed Prison and he had a heart attack on 16 April. Cam was taken under treatment at Batman Training and Research Hospital and was sent back to prison on 22 April. 

	 

	IHD Sêrt (Siirt) Branch Co-chair Mehmet Nuri Ekinci, who is Cam's lawyer, stated that his client must be released. Ekinci said, "He was hospitalised on 10 April. His family was not informed either. On 11 April, when I met him in prison, His condition was very serious."

	 

	Ekinci said that his client had a heart attack on 25 May 2024 and added, "He was taken to Beşiri State Hospital with a blocked artery. As İHD and his lawyers, we had applied for a stay of execution. He was referred to Istanbul ATK. On 15 November 2024, the ATK issued a report stating that Cam was "able to sustain his life". 

	 

	"We applied to Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on 28 November. The request for stay of execution was rejected on the grounds of the ATK's decision," he said. 

	 

	'MUST BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY'

	 

	Ekinci stated that his client suffers from kidney failure, is partially paralysed, has a brain tumour and has problmes with hearing. Ekinci stressed that they made new applications to the prosecutor's office, the ministry and the execution judge for his release and said, "A report must be issued stating that he cannot stay in prison. Because this situation is an agony both for him and his ward mate. He had a heart attack twice."

	 

	Calling for urgent steps to be taken for seriously ill prisoners, Ekinci said, "We have made an application not only for Mehmet Emin Cam but for all ill prisoners as İHD. There are at least 1,412 ill prisoners, 335 of whom are seriously ill. Their conditions are risky. They are not suitable for prison conditions. We follow up all of them as much as we can. One of the most seriously ill prisoners is Mehmet Emin Cam. Cam's condition is critical and he needs to be released immediately." 

	 

	MA / Fethi Balaman