Derya Ren

 

DİYARBAKIR - After the Covid-19 spread in prisoners in Diyarbakır Women’s Closed Prison, families said they were worried. The families called on the authorities, saying; "If something happens to our children, the only responsibility is the prison administration."

 

In Diyarbakır Women’s Closed Prison, Feriha Değiş and Emine Erol, who were hospitalized after the illness of the prisoners in the B-11 ward on May 4, were taken to the hospital for the coronavirus test, but their blood test or tomography were not taken, and they were sent back to prison. After the test results were positive on May 5, the ward was quarantined, and other prisoners were also tested. According to the test results, it was learned that eight women, along with Feriha and Emine, also caught Covid-19.

 

On the other hand, it was stated that the guards raided and searched the wards on May 3 and did not change gloves during the searches, while the families said they were worried about what happened.

 

‘They are the guards who took the epidemic to the ward’

 

Stating that Feriha has shortness of breath, her mother, Sultan Değiş, noted that her husband, Nimet Değiş, who has been in prison for 29 years, also got coronavirus and stayed in intensive care for 48 days. Sultan said: "Every time I call the hospital for Feriha, they say she is good. But we do not know how true it is. My daughter has 20 days of sentence, she had to be released. Warnings are made every day due to the epidemic. However, the guards freely go to the wards and search. The prisoners do not go out, so they are the guards who took the epidemic to the ward. My daughter did not call me on Tuesday, a family called me and said she would not call me because she was going to talk to her father. The other day, they called from prison and said that Feriha had coronavirus."

 

‘It is cruelty, insult’

 

Emphasizing that the prisoners should be released since the outbreak began, Sultan stated that those who entered prison due to criminal crimes and murdered women were released, but political prisoners are more and more isolated. "There is only one reason why they persecute us so much, because we are Kurdish. It is cruelty, insult," she said.

 

‘We are worried’

 

Emine Erol’s mother, Ayfer Erol, stated that she had a phone call with her daughter on Tuesday and that her daughter got sick and constantly felt weak during the phone call. Expressing that Emine told her that her chronic diseases were triggered during the conversation. "She stated that due to the vascular occlusion, joint pain disease has increased. Other prisoners staying in the same ward with Emine also have symptoms, but if they do not get worse, the prisoners are not taken to the hospital or to the test. They called from prison twice on Wednesday, saying that they received a test from Emine and that the test was positive. They said that Feriha was with her. I am worried about my daughter's condition, she has been on hunger strike for almost 100 days. Vascular congestion, joint discomfort, as well as blood supplements need to be done. We are very worried about him," Ayfer said. 

 

‘Let them give information about my daughter's health’

 

Saying that they called the prison, but the administration reacted to them by saying; "What are you calling for?" Ayfer emphasized: "They have to report every moment of my daughter. If something happens to my daughter, the only responsible is their irresponsibility. Either let them leave my daughter, I will do her treatment, or they should give me information about my daughter's health at any moment."

 

On May 7, the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Diyarbakır branch Prison Commission and the Diyarbakır Bar Association Prison Commission held a meeting with the Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison administration. Stating that they will follow the issue after the meeting, ÖHD and the bar dwelled on the necessity of taking the measures immediately.