ANKARA - A letter was sent to the United Nations for the release of former HDP Co-Chair Aysel Tuğluk, who was diagnosed with dementia.

 

A letter was sent to the United Nations (UN) regarding the health situation of Aysel Tuğluk, held in Kocaeli No 1 Type diagnosed with dimentia by 43 Bar associations, legal and human rights organisations from Turkey and the world which calls for 'urgent intervention'.

 

The letter written by legal and human's rights organisations was sent to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Ill-Treatment, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Working Group on Arbitrary Arrests, Special Rapporteur on Physical and Mental Health and Special Rapporteur on Minority Rights.

 

'SHE IS DETORIORATING FAST'

 

In the letter which includes information about the situation of other ill-prisoners as well, attention was driven to the situation of former Member of Parliament Aysel Tuğluk who is held in prison despite being in serious condition. In the letter which emphasizes that Tuğluk has been detoriorating fast since she was diagnosed, the following statements were made, "Despite these serious health problems, the continued detention of Aysel Tuğluk in prison under current prison conditions and during the Covid-19 outbreak shows that the authorities did not comply with domestic law and international standards."

 

DEMAND FOR RELEASE

 

The letter, in which urgent action was demanded against the violations of rights against Tuğluk, the following statements were made: "Immediate release of Aysel Tuğluk and other prisoners and convicts in similar situations, who continue to be held in prison despite their very serious illnesses, raises concerns about the rights of prisoners and convicts to access healthcare. We demand that a sufficient number of medical personnel be able to carry out their work freely without being subjected to interference, and that the Turkish Government allow specialized human rights organizations and non-governmental organizations to visit and supervise prisons.”