İSTANBUL- Ali Doğan Aktay in Bodrum Type S Closed Prison is being held in solitary confinement with the "special" order of the Ministry of Justice.

 

Ali Doğan Aktay, who is being held in Bodrum Type S Closed Prison, has been held in a solitary cell for months with the "special" order of the Ministry of Justice. Aktay, who was detained in 2016 in a raid on his house in the Varto district of Muş was arrested on charges of "membership of a terrorist organisation" and "possession of explosive materials", and was sent to the Muş Type E Closed Prison. Aktay, who was held here for 6 months, was exiled to Kırıkkale Type F Closed Prison. Aktay, who was held here for 5 years, was transferred to Bolu Type F Closed Prison against his will on October 2, 2021, due to the tunnel in the prison.

 

'SPECIAL' INSTRUCTIONS OF THE MINISTRY

 

While he was being held in Bolu Type F Closed Prison, his sister Ezgi Aktay, who went to visit him, learned that his brother was being held alone. Stating that they asked the prison administration about this situation, they were not given any information. Sharing that the administration responded to them and told them he was quarantined because he was taken to the hospital and back, Aktay stated that after his elder brother's insistence, the administration admitted that  they were holding him alone due to the order of the Ministry of Justice. Aktay said, “They were making different excuses everytime we asked about him. Later we learned the truth. They were holding him alone due to the special instructions of the Ministry of Justice.”

 

'EITHER JUDICIAL PRISONERS WARDS OR SOLIDARITY CELL'

 

Aktay stated that she learned that her brother had been exiled to Bodrum Type S Prison, in Bolu Prison, where she went to see him. Aktay said, "My brother has been in Bodrum Type S Prison for 4 months, I went to Bodrum Type S Prison, they did not give any information. They said that they cannot give information, and psychologists will call us. We insisted on getting information. That's how we learned. There were no political prisoners there either. He was held with criminals, the ordinary prisoners. He was thrown into a solitary cell because he refused to be in that situation.”

 

HE IS PREVENTED FROM COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE

 

Sharing that her brother was exiled to Kırıkkale, Bolu and Bodrum, some of his basic needs were not given and his belongings were lost, Aktay said, “Currently, he is prevented from communicating with the outside. No newspapers or magazines are given to him. He can't subscribe to any communication tool. In addition, when we bring him his basic needs, the administration says he can buy all those from the canteen and refuses to give them to him. Everything is sold at very exorbitant prices in the canteen. There are currently 9 political prisoners in the type S prison. They won't let him stay with them. I visited him 3 weeks ago. I learned that the letters and faxes he sent were not sent. 

 

'FAMILY IS ALSO PUNISHED'

 

Pointing out that her brother is sentenced to 'aggravated life imprisonment', Aktay said: "He was initially sentenced to 20 years for two charges, but the sentence was reduced to 16 years by the Court of Appeal on the grounds that it was 'disproportionate' and that this sentence is now at the Court of Cassation. He has two children and he cannot see them because he is far away. That's the purpose. They  want to punish the families too. They are doing this to intimidate and frighten both him and the family.”

 

'ALL PEOPLE SHOULD STAND UP AGAINST THIS'

 

Aktay continued her words as follows: “What is the aim of the Ministry of Justice when it gives the order to keep him alone? What is planned when the prisoners who are already held under harsh conditions are also put in solitary confinement? The unlawfulness, torture, and deaths that have taken place in prisons recently make us concerned like every family. What explanation can there be for all this? The Kurdish people were unjustly and unlawfully thrown into prisons for years, and were killed by unknown assailants. Thousands of people have longed for their children, and there are still families who can't even find the remains of their loved ones. All the peoples of the world should raise their voices and stand up against them instead of being a part of this dirty war played on the Kurds.”

 

'KURDS ARE RESISTING'

 

Stating that the language and culture of the Kurds were ignored, Aktay said," The Kurds never submitted to pressure. The Kurds continue to resist. All peoples should be sensitive to this systematic policy of destruction and denial. We all should be unite."

 

 

 

MA/ Mehmet Aslan