DİYARBAKIR - Kamile Işıktaş, a mother of prisoner Mehmet Işıktaş who was exposed to violence and exiled, learned the news of the exile when they went to prison for a visit. ‘’They are under persecution in prison, we are also persecuted outside,’’ Kamile said.

 

Every day, a new one is added to the rights violations against prisoners in Turkey. Reports of non-governmental organizations on prisons also reveal the balance sheet of increasing rights violations. The latest report of the Van Bar Association Prison Commission, Association of Lawyers for Freedom (OHD), Human Rights Association (IHD) Van Branches and Association for Assistance and Solidarity with the Families of Detainees and Convicts (TUHAY-DER) shows the violations of rights and torture against prisoners in Van F-Type Prison. According to the report, 30 prisoners were put in the wards which called ‘’sponge room’’, and on a different date, 15 prisoners were battered in raids.

 

Again, the Istanbul Branch Prison Commission of the IHD, in its report on the violations of rights in prisons in the Marmara Region, informed that 1761 applications for violations were received in three months and underlined that the isolation in prisons has been aggravated.

 

Exile, violence, threat

 

While the policies of oppression, violence and torture against the prisoners increase, many prisoners are exiled to different prisons. Mehmet Işıktaş, who was held in Diyarbakır T Type Prison, was exiled to Konya Ereğli Prison. His family, who learned that Mehmet was exiled when they went to the closed visit, learned that Mehmet was exposed to batter and threats in the phone call they made later.

Saying that they could not go to Konya due to economic reasons, Mehmet’s mother Kamile Işıktaş noted that the families were also persecuted along with the prisoners.

 

‘My child’s punishment is still unclear’

 

Expressing that she has difficulty in making a living due to the growing economic problems in Turkey, Kamile mentioned that although she is 53-year-old, she goes to clean houses to meet the needs of her son, who is being kept in prison. Kamile, who learned when she went to visit that her son was exiled to another prison, said, ‘’I used to be able to visit my son, at least when he was in Diyarbakır Prison. But even though my child has a court case every four months, his punishment has not been specified yet. They exiled him directly to Konya Prison without held the 3rd hearing. During the exile, they took my child without even letting him get dressed. They did not allow him to take any of his belongings with him. This is cruelty. How will I go to Konya and see my son in this poverty and crisis?’’

Noting that the relatives of the prisoners had difficulties in going to distant cities to see their children, Kamile said, ‘’They are under persecution in prison, we are also persecuted outside’’.

 

‘Families cannot go to see their children’

 

Pointing out the violations of rights against prisoners in prisons, Kamile said, ‘’When my child calls us, ‘Our wards are constantly being raided. While the wards are being raided, the guards commit violence against us, tearing up our books,’’ he says. As if our children are imprisoned within four walls, they are also subjected to ill-treatment. Our children are being persecuted. What conscience would accept such arbitrary treatment? Why are they still being exiled from one prison to another? The exile and violations of rights in prisons should be ended as soon as possible.’’

 

‘This protest will continue until my demands are met’

 

On the other hand, Mehmet stated in a phone call with his family on November 5 that he was forced to be taken to the judicial ward by the prison administration and said, ‘’They forced me to take me to the judicial ward. When I refused to accept this situation, I was battered. They do not take me to the ward where the political prisoners are. Because of this, I protest what happened by not making weekly phone calls and meetings. This protest will continue until my demands are met’’.

 

Mehmet’s family stated that they were worried about what happened and called on all human rights defenders, especially lawyers, for solidarity.