Press release in Switzerland: “Release Sick Prisoners Immediately!”

Hereby we publish an unofficial translation of an article published by Avrupa Haber.

A press release was held in Basel, Switzerland on June 3 to raise public awareness about the situation of sick prisoners whose rights of health is getting systematically violated in Turkish prisons. In the statement made by the “Solidarity Platform with Prisoners”, which includes the Swiss Turkish Workers’ Federation (ITIF), it was stated that hundreds of sick prisoners in Turkish prisons were not released despite their serious illnesses, their treatment was prevented, and these practices were described as “an open policy of torture”. It was emphasized that there were approximately 2 thousand sick prisoners, and that according to the data of the Ministry of Justice, at least 2,258 prisoners lost their lives between 2018 and 2023, and that this number reached 709 in 2024 alone, and that these inhumane practices must be ended. The statement also emphasized that the severe isolation applied in Type S and Y prisons had devastating effects on sick prisoners, and that this isolation system both aggravated physical illnesses and deepened psychological problems.

The statement listed the conditions of some revolutionary prisoners who had serious health problems and were reflected in the public opinion as follows:

* Uğur Ok: His lungs have lost their function.

* Sıddık Güler: 84 years old, not released despite multiple chronic diseases.

* Ismail Yilmaz: 67 years old, heart disease, prostate, vision impairment, high blood pressure patient

* Fatma Tokmak: She has a heart valve replacement, stomach problems and high blood pressure.

* Ergin Aktaş: He is missing both arms, he has COPD and tuberculosis.

* Ali Gülmez: Heart vessels are blocked, a stent has been inserted.

* Delil Bozkurt: Cancer patient and 80 percent disabled.

At the end of the statement, it was said, “Sick prisoners should be released immediately, isolation practices should be ended. Type S and Y prisons should be closed.”

The action ended with the slogans “Revolutionary prisoners are our honor!, Long live international solidarity!, Demolish the prisons, freedom for the prisoners!, Long live revolutionary solidarity!”