MERSİN - 8 prisoners stated that they were kept in severe isolation conditions in Ereğli High Security Closed Prison and listed the violations they experienced one by one.

 

Enver Ahmet, Teymur Enes, Muhammed Bru, Murat Avcı, İlyas Acar, Mehmet Can, Ferhat Kaya and Faruk Can, who are held in Ereğli High Security Closed Prison, wrote about the rights violations they experienced in a letter they sent to the Human Rights Association (İHD) Mersin Branch. In the letter sent on behalf of Ahmet Enver, the violations were described as "severe isolation" and a call was made for sensitivity to what was happening.

 

RELEASE OF PRISONERS ARE PREVENTED

 

Stating that he has been in many prisons for 26 years, but this is the first time he has been held in such severe isolation conditions, Enver said: "The prison was newly built and that they had been staying in single and triple rooms since the day they were brought. There was no ventilation in the rooms they stayed in and the existing windows were closed with wires. The sentences of many of his friends who were detained with him were reduced to less than 1 year and 6 months. The releases of some of his friends who were supposed to be released by now were extended for 'arbitrary'  reasons."

 

VIOLATIONS

 

In the letter, the violations were listed as follows:

 

“* Even though we have all received limited prison sentences, we are subject to the execution regime applied to convicts of aggravated punishment.

 

* We are being held under severe isolation.

 

* Since we do not have any air, we are forced to spend 22.5 hours a day indoors.

 

* The conditions we are in threaten our health and prevent us from getting clean air. The rooms do not receive sunlight, and we are forced to live in a humid and unhealthy environment.

 

* Due to our lack of air, we do not have the opportunity to clean our clothes.

 

* We are forced to stay in the same network with people convicted of criminal and other crimes, and this creates a basis for creating various problems.

 

* Treatment of prisoners with health problems is either not provided or is prolonged over time, causing serious grievances.

 

* Although the conditions and infrastructure are suitable, we cannot benefit from social, cultural and sports activities. The prison administration has moved away from its ability to organize such activities because of its excessive focus on segregation and isolation.

 

* Regarding the comment period, which has lower and upper limits determined by the Ministry (half an hour to 1.5 hours) and discretion left to the administration, the prison administration we are in has limited the comments to 45 minutes. This situation victimizes our families and relatives from very limited and distant places. Comments should be extended to a more reasonable time.

 

* The rooms we are locked in have no privacy. For security reasons, the cameras in the rooms see both the dormitory and the toilet and bathroom.

 

* Wire mesh was installed on the windows of rooms with unhealthy and clean room problems, and the air inside was completely polluted.

 

* Our comrades who have completed their sentences and need to be released are not released, their sentences are extended and additional penalties are imposed by the boards; This practice has neither a humane nor a legal aspect.”