An inmate who has valiantly sustained a hunger strike for 111 days in a prison in Turkey’s capital Ankara is facing deteriorating health and started experiencing numbness in his body, his sister said on Saturday.
Meral Halisdemir, the sister of Nedim Ozturk, who is incarcerated in Sincan 2 High-Security Prison, has raised concerns about his declining health after visiting her brother in prison.
Ozturk initiated an indefinite hunger strike on April 24th, protesting against the violation of policies and requesting to be transferred to another prison facility. During the course of his hunger strike, he has reportedly lost 19 kilograms and is now facing numbness in various parts of his body.
Meral Halisdemir, who visited Ozturk in the prison just two days ago, expressed concerns over the conditions her brother is enduring. Despite not being sentenced to life imprisonment, Ozturk is being held in solitary confinement in a high-security prison. Halisdemir revealed that Ozturk has made multiple appeals to authorities and individuals to be moved from his current location, but his efforts have been met with no response. She firmly stated that Ozturk’s confinement in the high-security prison is unlawful.
Halisdemir explained that Ozturk’s hunger strike was sparked by his unjust placement in Sincan 2 High-Security Prison and the lack of response to his appeals.
“On the 109th day of his hunger strike, we went to see him. During this time, he has gone from 64 kilograms to 45 kilograms. When I hugged him, my hand entered the cage of his ribs. Numbness has started from his shoulders, right leg, and hips down to his knees. His consciousness is fine; my brother started this strike to access his basic rights,” she said.
Halisdemir emphasized that prisoners in high-security facilities are expected to fulfill all their needs independently.
She added: “My brother mentioned that he is not allowed to participate in group activities. The outdoor areas are surrounded by three-meter walls. In a small space, they can glimpse the sky. They can see the sky through a small opening, but their cells lack air, light, and sunshine. The prison’s first floor, which has three levels, doesn’t differentiate between day and night. There is only one three-person cell, which is constantly monitored by cameras. I’ve visited many places, and in those places, we had conversations in large halls under the supervision of officials. In Sincan, we had a conversation inside a glass enclosure.”
Source: Gerçek News
