Torture allegations have once again rocked in the prison of Turkey’s eastern Igdir province, as reports of human rights violations and ill-treatment continue to emerge. The prison guards, according to lawyer Ridvan Sahin, are accused of deliberately turning off surveillance cameras before subjecting detainees to acts of physical abuse.
Igdir Type S Closed Prison, which has frequently been in the spotlight due to torture and ill-treatment allegations, is now facing renewed accusations of human rights violations. The prison came under scrutiny following the suspicious deaths of Sezer Alan in February 2022 and Sinan Kaya in March 2022, both of which were labeled as “suicides” by prison authorities.
According to reports from Mezopotamya Agency, the violations extend not only to the prisoners but also to the lawyers. Lawyer Ridvan Sahin, who claims he was assaulted by guards while visiting his clients, spoke about the violations that occurred in the prison and the physical assault he experienced.
Sahin stated that since January, they have been visiting the prison with three other lawyers due to torture and ill-treatment complaints from detainees and convicts:
“One detainee said, ‘I can’t take it anymore; I’m going to cut my wrists,’ and his family asked us to go to the prison. While we were waiting in the lawyer’s room, we heard cries of ‘don’t do it, don’t hit my head.’ Our lawyer colleagues warned the guards not to torture. In response, 10-15 guards attacked us. The guards were looking for an opportunity to attack our colleagues. When I tried to intervene, they started attacking me as well.”
Sahin went on to claim that they filed a report on the incident and made a criminal complaint. He said, “When we talked to other lawyers, we realized that there were numerous complaints about this in the prison. The detainees had complaints, but the prosecutor’s office refused to meet with us regarding this matter. We don’t know why they don’t want to meet with us, but we personally experienced this assault. If they do this to the lawyers, we can’t even imagine what they are doing to the detainees. There have been complaints since January that those in the prison are under pressure and subjected to ill-treatment.”
Sahin reminded that Type S prison was opened in the city following the pandemic and said, “After 2022, we received numerous torture complaints. It was claimed that two political detainees had committed suicide. After these deaths, the attacks increased. One of my clients informed me, ‘Mr. Lawyer, the guards insult us. When we respond, they take us to a room. Normally, the guards have sound and video recording cameras on their collars, but they turn them off when we enter that room. They beat us as they wish, even in large groups.’ Thus, the extent of the torture is revealed.”
Sahin also alleged that another detainee, Fuat Bulut, whom he visited, had cut his wrists due to not being able to bear the torture. He said, “During our meeting with the detainee last month, he told me, ‘They are trying to break us. Even though I am a pretrial detainee, I went on a hunger strike because we cannot cope with this pressure and oppression. We submit petitions, but there are no results; most likely, they are torn up and thrown away.’ The detainees complain about various issues, from food to the prison administration and from the guards to the daily routine. The guards mainly apply violence to the convicts. The guards and chief guards act arbitrarily, and since the prison administration supports the guards, the problems remain unresolved. The administration does not meet with the detainees or the lawyers. These problems cannot be solved with complaints and ill-treatment.”
Source: Gerçek News
